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A Syrian Refugee Lesson for Liberals
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This WSJ editorial says president Obama's inaction, including the smaller step of not putting in place a safe zone in Syria, comes at a price for Liberals. The recent action by Governors in Michigan and other states turning down Syrian refugees, it says is one of the moral consequences of Obama's policies. For Liberals it says a policy of inaction and turning America's back to the needs of ordinary Syrians during the Arab Spring is not neutral, it also has consequences. The consequences for Liberals is the steady stream of refugees to Europe, and the greater intolerance in western societies as the safe havens created by these policies in the Middle East lead to terrorist actions in Europe or the U.S. In short doing little or nothing carries risks for the kind of society liberals want to see. Through developing policy in response to the Bush Administration's policies the Obama administration makes a series of errors of its own that compromise liberal values, including the collapse of the Arab Spring without American and western support, and the creation of a huge refugee crisis in Syria, Iraq, with a spillover to Jordan and Turkey, and further spillover to Europe. Liberals in Europe also face a similiar situation, including Liberals in France.
The Obama presidency and the earlier decisions for Iraq and Syria as seen in September 2014 and May 2015
09/20/2014
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
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First Batch of Hillary Clinton Emails Captures Concerns Over Libya
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Robert Kagan and other experts on why the world of liberal democracy and free trade that we live in is based on America as the dominant power
02/10/2012
With the building of America as the dominant power will go the scaffolding of liberal democracy and free trade, says Kagan. The decline or collapse of America as the dominant power being repaced by a multipolar world of different powers, with no one to champion liberal democracy and free trade, will likely lead to the situation of conflicts seen in the 19th and 20th century leading to World War I. Today's other democracies - India, Brazil, Turkey, S. Africa and Australia - won't have the capacity to exercize such leadership, and India could end up in rivalry with China. A serious problem for the view that liberal democracy and free trade will just happen is that the educational systems and instiutions of China, India, do not have the depth and experience that is needed to provide the leadership required to champion democracy and free trade.
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Wall Street Journal 06/05/2013
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Yes, America Should Be the World’s Policeman
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Bill Keller of the NYT's message to U.S. president Obama on Egypt and Syria
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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
The consensus in the Obama administration to support Syria's democracy forces in summer 2011, and the U.S. president's failure to act
08/23/2011
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
The WSJ on the faltering and indecision of the Obama administration's position on Syria
06/14/2013
Grouped Articles
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Heavy Pressure Led to Decision by Obama on Syrian Arms
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Wall Street Journal 09/01/2013
GOP Leader Rallies for Obama Plan
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9 questions about Syria you were too embarrassed to ask | WorldViews
Washington Post 09/07/2013
New York Times 09/08/2013
U.S. resettlement of Syria's refugees at 1500 and UK 166 in 2015, as Germany accepts 800,000 refugees
09/04/2015
The huge difference in the U.S. and German resettlement of Syria's refugees. About half the population of Syria is dslocated in a tragedy of massive proportions for a country of 23 million- additional numbers of refugees are spread out in Iraq and Libya. The U.S. withdrawal from the Middle East under the Obama administration led to a worsening of the crisis in Iraq, Syria and Libya, and the unraveling of the fragile situation in these countries. The result is the flow of migrants to Europe by the hundreds of thousands in 2015. German chancellor Merkel will be remembered in history for the courage to say in Sept 2015- "If Europe fails on the question of refugees, its close connection with universal civil rights will be destroyed." And for rallying German society to the work of integrating refugees with the openness of educational institutions and civil society, especially in the urban areas.
Grouped Articles
U.S. Pressed to Take More Syrian Refugees
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Refugees Find a Mostly Smooth Welcome in Germany
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Piercing the Denial on Refugees
New York Times 09/04/2015
The Refugee Crisis Isn’t a ‘European Problem’
New York Times 09/05/2015
New York Times 09/04/2015
New York Times 09/05/2015
Is the Arab Revolution, the struggle for freedom in the Middle East, an opportunity for the West and for the Free World?
01/05/2009
Even in the hills above Darna, near Benghazi, Libya- where Islamic anti-Ghadafi fighters reviled the West- the mood is for friendly relations and being on the same side as the U.S. and Europe. The U.S. and European support for the democracy protests and movements throughout the Arab world has created a change in the Arab world for how America is seen. Did the U.S. support of autocratic regimes in the Arab world create tensions that were released through activities that targeted America? Could this be the opportunity that would turn things around for the West and the Free World's relations with the Arab and Muslim world? Could this be the beginnings of an opportunity that can bring back much needed peaceful relations with the Arab world and Muslims in South Asia?
Grouped Articles
âBeyond War,â by David Rohde
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U.S. must suspend aid after Egypt’s coup - The Washington Post
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New York Times 12/30/2013
Fareed Zakaria: Let’s be honest, Islam has a problem right now - The Washington Post
Washington Post 10/10/2014
New York Times 11/19/2014
A Syrian Refugee Lesson for Liberals
Wall Street Journal 11/17/2015
A detailed account of the events in September 2013 involving Obama, Kerry, Hagel, White House and Congressional officials as president Obama reversed policy on Syria
09/16/2013
Grouped Articles
Inside White House, a Head-Spinning Reversal on Chemical Weapons
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Saudi Arabia gets forceful on foreign policy - The Washington Post
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Fouad Ajami: When the Obama Magic Died
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‘America Must Always Lead,’ Obama Tells West Point Graduates
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How the Obama administration's policies in Syria, Iraq and towards Iran, have increased sectarian and religious conflict, and have pushed back democracy and economic development in the Middle East
06/10/2014
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
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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 slow response to the situation in Syria
08/23/2011
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
U.S. president Obama and handling of Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria and Iraq- policy failures and corrective course
09/28/2014
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 lost sense of moral purpose in the Obama presidency (3)
11/17/2015
Linked Articles
U.N. Says 60 Million People Have Been Forced to Flee War
New York Times 12/18/2015
A Syrian Refugee Lesson for Liberals
Wall Street Journal 11/17/2015
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