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Grouped Articles
Gen. Martin Dempsey Leaves a Legacy of Caution
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Gen. Dunford continues Gen. Dempsey's policy of caution in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both officers are concerned about the manner in which the U.S. undertook its missions in Afghanistan and Iraq and are making an effort to correct errors made under the Bush administration. Gen. Dempsey is concerned about the hasty training of the Iraqi army under his predecessors leading to some commanders being accused of heading sectarian death squads. Gen. Dempsey's cautious approach so that some of the mistakes made under a previous administration are not repeated, is exceeded by president Obama who has opted not to act in situations where Dempsey and most of the president's advisors have favored acting.
Grouped Articles
Gen. Martin Dempsey Leaves a Legacy of Caution
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Joseph Dunford, Joint Chiefs Nominee, Known to Maneuver Between Roles
New York Times 05/05/2015
Obama leaves behind a mess in Afghanistan | Asia | DW.COM | 19.01.2017
DW.COM 01/19/2017
Grouped Articles
Obama Acknowledges U.S. Erred in Assessing ISIS
New York Times 09/28/2014
Iraq and U.S. Find Some Potential Sunni Allies Have Already Been Lost
New York Times 11/15/2014
Months of Airstrikes Fail to Slow Islamic State in Syria
Wall Street Journal 01/15/2015
Coalition Has Reclaimed Territory from Islamic State, Kerry Says
Wall Street Journal 01/23/2015
New York Times 02/07/2015
Obama’s Dual View of War Power Seeks Limits and Leeway
New York Times 02/11/2015
The decision follows gains by the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) extremist Sunni militants over large areas in Sunni parts of Iraq. Sunnis alienated by the Maliki government's policies favoring Shiites have supported Sunni militants. The move comes late in the conflict after the Sunnis are left to fend for themselves in Syria and Iraq, and continues a policy of no active engagement of U.S. airpower in the region- increases aid that is already being sent, and serves the purpose of checking the gains of the ISIS, making no significant change to the situation in the region of a refugee crisis and expanded conflict. The move may be intended also to show a balance of support to Sunni and Shia, as the Obama administration is supporting the Maliki government against ISIS. The same support of moderates with a "no fly zone" could have kept U.S. combat forces out of the region and achieved what was achieved in Libya of freeing the region of the Assad regime, not emboldening Russia's Putin, stood up for America's support for democracy and freedom and condemnation of the use of chemical weapons, been consistent with American public opinion's desire for no large interventions overseas, continued focus on the domestic economy, and not compromised severely the hard won gains of America's military and servicemen in the last decade. So weak has been the Republican response and so partisan the politics, that few Democrats voices have been heard to questions the policies, so that a muddled policy based on the president's inclinations has been allowed to look sensible. It has made the U.S. look weak in Europe and Asia, as Russia and China have been emboldened in each region. Democrats have only to look to Truman in 1947-1950 when Berlin, Greece, South Korea, were not left to fall into chaos with millions of refugees and Russian Communist influence, to see the difference with the current policies, without a knee jerk reaction to the Bush era.
Grouped Articles
Obama's Foreign-Policy Failures Go Far Beyond Iraq
Wall Street Journal 06/27/2014
Syria Is Breeding Western Terrorists, U.S. Warns
Wall Street Journal 07/09/2014
Washington Post 07/12/2014
U.S. Sees Risks in Assisting a Compromised Iraqi Force
New York Times 07/13/2014
U.S. Approves More Hellfire Missiles for Iraq
Wall Street Journal 07/30/2014
Leaving U.S. Allies Adrift as Chaos Rises
Wall Street Journal 08/01/2014
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 04/09/2015
Gen. Martin Dempsey Leaves a Legacy of Caution
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Grouped Articles
Inside White House, a Head-Spinning Reversal on Chemical Weapons
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2013
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2013
Saudi Arabia gets forceful on foreign policy - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/25/2013
Rice Offers a More Modest Strategy for Mideast
New York Times 10/26/2013
Fouad Ajami: When the Obama Magic Died
Wall Street Journal 11/15/2013
‘America Must Always Lead,’ Obama Tells West Point Graduates
New York Times 05/28/2014
By allowing reckless intervention by Putin's Russia in Syria, and by its policies in the Middle East after the Arab Spring, the Obama administration has starved the hopes of an entire region heavily oriented towards a young demographic for participatory democracy and economic development, leaving it to descend into religious conflict, and then into sectarian conflict.
Grouped Articles
Sunni Militants Drive Iraqi Army Out of Mosul
New York Times 06/10/2014
Mosul Falls to ISIS, Endangering Iraq’s Democracy
New York Times 06/11/2014
U.S. Scrambles to Help Iraq Fight Off Militants as Baghdad Is Threatened
New York Times 06/12/2014
Veterans Watch as Gains Their Friends Died for Are Erased by Insurgents
New York Times 06/13/2014
Obama Finds He Can’t Put Iraq War Behind Him
New York Times 06/13/2014
Iraqi Shiite Cleric Issues Call to Arms
New York Times 06/13/2014
The Obama administration succumbing to pressure from Russia pushed for the British, French and Saudis to give up their effort to include firm language for action against the Assad regime in a Security Council resolution on the use of chemical weapons. For the Saudis, says Obaid, this was more evidence of dysfunction in the working of the Security Council allowing the slaughter in Syria to continue.
Grouped Articles
Saudi Arabia gets forceful on foreign policy - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/25/2013
Wall Street Journal 10/25/2013
Rice Offers a More Modest Strategy for Mideast
New York Times 10/26/2013
Fouad Ajami: When the Obama Magic Died
Wall Street Journal 11/15/2013
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal: An Ally Frets About American Retreat
Wall Street Journal 11/22/2013
As Syrian Chemical Attack Loomed, Missteps Doomed Civilians
Wall Street Journal 11/23/2013
The Syrian civil war is spilling over into Iraq. Iraq is unable to protect its airspace from being used by Iran to ship supplies to the Assad regime, or to prevent Turkey's warplanes from using Iraqi airspace to attack Kurdish separatists. There is also a danger of a Sunni-Shiite conflict being exacerabated by former Sunni insurgents in Iraq joining up with Sunni refugees from Syria. The Maliki government in Iraq is moving closer to Iran as the Syrian civil war escalates and brings Sunnis together against the Assad regime. Turkey is also seeing the effects of a flow of refugees on its border with Syria. The Obama administration has been slow to respond to the rapidly developing situation as it concentrates on a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq with the lack of agreement on a residual U.S. troop presence. This leaves the U.S. less than the minimum leverage that is needed just as the sectarian divisions are worsening, after years of investing resources in the region. With the EU countries focussed on economic problems, and the Obama administration's lack of active support for the Free Syria movement, the broader involvement of Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Russia in the region, the situation is likely to lead to an international crisis without U.S. leadership.
Grouped Articles
New York Times 04/22/2013
Clashes Carry Worries of a New Civil War
New York Times 04/28/2013
âBeyond War,â by David Rohde
New York Times 05/03/2013
Pentagon Plans for the Worst in Syria
Wall Street Journal 05/07/2013
What if the U.S. doesn’t intervene in Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Why did Mr. Obama overrule his advisers on Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Grouped Articles
Syria Is Breeding Western Terrorists, U.S. Warns
Wall Street Journal 07/09/2014
Leaving U.S. Allies Adrift as Chaos Rises
Wall Street Journal 08/01/2014
New York Times 08/11/2014
How to Save Iraq and Honor American Sacrifice
Wall Street Journal 08/15/2014
Wall Street Journal 09/20/2014
The Too Little, Too Late Presidency
Wall Street Journal 02/18/2015
Grouped Articles
Israel Says Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons
New York Times 04/23/2013
New York Times 04/22/2013
What if the U.S. doesn’t intervene in Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Why did Mr. Obama overrule his advisers on Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
New York Times 05/05/2013
Wall Street Journal 08/23/2011
The western world looks on as chemical weapons are used repeatedly by Syria's Assad government, according to some reports. The lack of leadership from the U.S., France, Britain and Germany. The failure of the Russian government under Putin to separate global geopolitics from the aspirations of the people of Syria for freedom and democracy and the use of artillery and bombing of civilian population.
Grouped Articles
Israel Says Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons
New York Times 04/23/2013
New York Times 04/22/2013
Obamaâs Vow on Chemical Weapons Puts Him in Tough Spot
New York Times 05/04/2013
Pentagon Plans for the Worst in Syria
Wall Street Journal 05/07/2013
What if the U.S. doesn’t intervene in Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Why did Mr. Obama overrule his advisers on Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Displaced Iraqis in Kurdish areas of Iraq and other parts of the country following the U.S. intervention period and the invasion by Islamic State from Syria. Just as the country was returning to a degree of normalcy after the U.S intervention, actions of the Maliki adminsitration and Islamic State's attack on Mosul lead to a huge wave of refugees and displaced people by the winter of 2014-2015. The inaction of the Obama administration till the fomation of the new Abadi government in Iraq worsened the situation.
Grouped Articles
Iraq faces new crisis as winter descends on millions uprooted by Islamic State - The Washington Post
Washington Post 12/27/2014
Coalition Has Reclaimed Territory from Islamic State, Kerry Says
Wall Street Journal 01/23/2015
Kurdish Forces Declare Victory in Kobani
Wall Street Journal 01/28/2015
The Too Little, Too Late Presidency
Wall Street Journal 02/18/2015
Splits in Islamic State Emerge as Its Ranks Expand
Wall Street Journal 03/10/2015
Iraq Inches Toward 3-Way Split
Wall Street Journal 03/26/2015
Grouped Articles
Obama Nominates Gen. Joe Dunford as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Gen. Martin Dempsey Leaves a Legacy of Caution
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Joseph Dunford, Joint Chiefs Nominee, Known to Maneuver Between Roles
New York Times 05/05/2015
The U.S. finds itself on both sides of the conflict involving Iran after years of inaction under the Obama administration- using airstrikes for supporting the Saudis against Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who advanced into the southern port city of Aden in March 2015, and using airstrikes supporting the Iraqi army at Tikrit. Policy determined by an evolving situation in the Middle East reacting to facts on the ground at each step, and not able to formulate a coherent policy, after leaving the region to the influence of regional powers and sectarian conflicts under the Obama administration.
Grouped Articles
U.S. Boosts Aid in Saudi-Led Fight To Defeat Rebel Force in Yemen
Wall Street Journal 03/29/2015
Iraqi Forces in No Hurry to Expel ISIS From Tikrit
New York Times 03/28/2015
Saudi-Led Forces Blockade Yemen
Wall Street Journal 03/31/2015
Saudi Arabia and Yemen: The test for a new monarch
Economist 04/05/2015
U.S. Widens Role in Saudi-led Campaign Against Houthi Rebels in Yemen
Wall Street Journal 04/13/2015
Mohammad Javad Zarif: A Message From Iran
New York Times 04/20/2015
In early 2014 op-ed pages of the NYT and WSJ are used by Hillary Clinton and General Jones, former Secretary of State and former National Security Advisor, calling into question Obama's failure to act decisively in Syria and Iraq. By September 2014 the policy appears to be unraveling. Hardly any reporters or critics mention that all the Syrian democracy forces needed was the "no fly zone" offered to Libya. Timely decisive use of American airpower early in the conflict would have enabled the success of the democracy forces in Syria. General Keene called for this in an op-ed on 5/22/2013 and the WSJ editorial on 8/29/2013 refuted claims that this would cost $1 billion. Actually Gen. Keane stated that all that was necessary was to destroy the 50 runways and the air defense system of the Assad regime, which the U.S. had capabilities for even with the Russian support to Assad. It also would have met the early misguided efforts of the Putin government to exert influence in regions against the will of the people in the name of Russian nationalism, which extended following Syria to Eastern Europe. It would have kept U.S. ground forces out and gradually stabilized the region with democratic governments in Syria and Libya- with U.S. economic support and guidance during a transition period. Truman was coming out of the Second World War when he faced and responded to the efforts to extend communist regimes in Greece and southern Europe within a few years of the global conflict. Truman and General Marshall accomplished in Europe what Obama failed to do in North Africa when a challenge as well as an opportunity presented itself. Truman also listened to exceptional leaders in his circle of advisors. The U.S. has strategic interests in the Middle East and concern for the welfare of the region and its people. This was neglected in preference for involvement in Afghanistan, where involvement is only for the purpose of keeping a failing state from becoming a haven for terrorism. A permanent settlement between India and Pakistan c
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 09/20/2014
New York Times 02/07/2015
U.S. to Give Some Syria Rebels Ability to Call Airstrikes
Wall Street Journal 02/18/2015
The Too Little, Too Late Presidency
Wall Street Journal 02/18/2015
Gen. Martin Dempsey Leaves a Legacy of Caution
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
First Batch of Hillary Clinton Emails Captures Concerns Over Libya
New York Times 05/21/2015
Was the president putting a gloss on foreign policy that has at times appeared to be vacillating and indecisive. Are labels such as isolationism, interventionism, multilateralism, misleading and a play on words for a foreign policy that was shy to face up to issues and threats, and sometimes ignored the best advice within his own party.
Grouped Articles
Obama Defends U.S. Policy Based Less on Military Might
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2014
Notable & Quotable: Obama at West Point
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2014
Rebutting Critics, Obama Seeks Higher Bar for Military Action
New York Times 05/28/2014
President Obama Misses a Chance on Foreign Affairs
New York Times 05/28/2014
U.S. Sway in Asia Is Imperiled as China Challenges Alliances
New York Times 05/30/2014
New York Times 05/31/2014
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 06/05/2013
Fouad Ajami: When the Obama Magic Died
Wall Street Journal 11/15/2013
‘America Must Always Lead,’ Obama Tells West Point Graduates
New York Times 05/28/2014
Obama Defends U.S. Policy Based Less on Military Might
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2014
Notable & Quotable: Obama at West Point
Wall Street Journal 05/29/2014
Rebutting Critics, Obama Seeks Higher Bar for Military Action
New York Times 05/28/2014
Grouped Articles
New York Times 08/25/2013
U.S. Prepares for Solo Strike On Syria After Britain Balks
Wall Street Journal 08/30/2013
Wall Street Journal 08/29/2013
Wall Street Journal 09/01/2013
GOP Leader Rallies for Obama Plan
Wall Street Journal 09/04/2013
New York Times 09/08/2013
Grouped Articles
To Defeat Islamic State, Remove Assad
Wall Street Journal 10/07/2014
Turkish Inaction on ISIS Advance Dismays the U.S.
New York Times 10/07/2014
Will Syria Be Obama’s Vietnam?
New York Times 10/07/2014
The Too Little, Too Late Presidency
Wall Street Journal 02/18/2015
To Stop Iran’s Bomb, Bomb Iran
New York Times 03/26/2015
Gen. Martin Dempsey Leaves a Legacy of Caution
Wall Street Journal 05/06/2015
Crawford writes in the British daily, The Telegraph, on Sept. 10, 2013, on how sadly things have gone wrong. He calls it the worst day in western diplomatic history.
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 09/11/2013
What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria
New York Times 09/11/2013
Elite Syrian Unit Scatters Chemical Arms Stockpile
Wall Street Journal 09/13/2013
Obama Is Lost in the Mideast Bazaar
Wall Street Journal 09/12/2013
Inside White House, a Head-Spinning Reversal on Chemical Weapons
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2013
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2013
Defense Secretary describes the plans supported by key members of the National Security team to support Syrian democracy forces in the summer of 2011- supported by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Secretary of State Clinton, General Dempsey of the Joint Chiefs, and CIA director Petraeus. The president failed to act because of approaching elections and the general hesitation to act that was displayed since the start of the democracy movement in Tunisia, and then through the movement's spread to Egypt, Libya, followed by Syria. The U.S. failed to grasp an opportunity for the Free World and create goodwill in the Arab world by standing up to its ideals of democracy and freedom.
Grouped Articles
Israel Says Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons
New York Times 04/23/2013
New York Times 04/22/2013
Pentagon Plans for the Worst in Syria
Wall Street Journal 05/07/2013
What if the U.S. doesn’t intervene in Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
Why did Mr. Obama overrule his advisers on Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
New York Times 05/05/2013
Mosul on the border with Syria is taken by the insurgents ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) who operate on the Syrian side against Assad. Mosul is Iraq's second largest city with different ethnic groups. Foreign fighters operating in Syria have joined the ISIS. Maliki had lost support in Mosul with his increasingly sectarian policies favoring Shiites and marginalizing Sunnis. The Iraqi forces lack training and are poorly organized compared to the insurgents fighting the Assad regime in Syria. The U.S. lost any chance of maintaining peace in the region with policies of the Obama administration distancing itself in Iraq, Syria and towards Iran's non-sectarian democracy movement. With moderates left in the cold in the region, sectarian influences are taking control and undoing the hard work of previous administrations. The hopes of the heavily young demographic oriented Middle East region in 2011-2012 for economic progress are now fading first into religious extremism and then into sectarian religious conflict, with Putin's government in Russia allowed by the Obama administration to pursue reckless policies in Syria against the interests of people in the region. A no fly zone or action of the kind taken in Libya at very small cost to the U.S. was not taken by U.S. president Obama. The failed reelection bid of Sarkozy in France left Britain's prime minister Cameron with no allies to pursue prudent policies in Syria that would have advanced democracy and economic development in the entire region.
Grouped Articles
Sunni Militants Drive Iraqi Army Out of Mosul
New York Times 06/10/2014
Wall Street Journal 06/11/2014
Iraqi, U.S. Forces Trade Barbs Over Failures
Wall Street Journal 06/12/2014
Mosul Falls to ISIS, Endangering Iraq’s Democracy
New York Times 06/11/2014
U.S. Said to Rebuff Iraqi Request to Strike Militants
New York Times 06/11/2014
Sunni Fighters Gain as They Battle 2 Governments, and Other Rebels
New York Times 06/11/2014
Grouped Articles
GOP Leader Rallies for Obama Plan
Wall Street Journal 09/04/2013
9 questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask | WorldViews
Washington Post 09/07/2013
New York Times 09/08/2013
President Makes a Tough Pitch to Weary Nation
Wall Street Journal 09/10/2013
Planned as Call to Act, Obamaâs Speech Became a Plea for Time
New York Times 09/11/2013
Inside White House, a Head-Spinning Reversal on Chemical Weapons
Wall Street Journal 09/16/2013
Grouped Articles
Wall Street Journal 06/14/2013
Heavy Pressure Led to Decision by Obama on Syrian Arms
New York Times 06/14/2013
Wall Street Journal 09/01/2013
GOP Leader Rallies for Obama Plan
Wall Street Journal 09/04/2013
9 questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask | WorldViews
Washington Post 09/07/2013
New York Times 09/08/2013
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