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No, Mr. President, staying out of Syria didn’t save lives. It cost them. - The Washington Post
Keywords:
Tags: United States,
Richard Cohen, Washington Post reporter, on the "no fly zone" option in Syria and how it could have prevented the loss of 300,000 lives, prevented millions of refugees, and moving politics in Europe in a direction that reverses the gains made in the post war period towards a more tolerant society.
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
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
The Obama administration's decision to ask Congress for $500 million in June 2014 to aid moderate forces in Syria including the Free Syria Army
06/27/2014
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
Gen. Keane and Pletka on the U.S. option to degrade air defense system in Syria in 2013- "no fly zone" option
05/22/2013
Gen. Keane and Pletka say inaction can be more risky than action with the spillover of the war in Syria to neighboring countries. The Assad regime's attack on civilian populations and use of chemical weapons, the democracy movement in Syria, and the support from the Arab world and Turkey, are critical factors that would bring the U.S. credibility in the region and gain the respect of people in the region, if action is taken in 2013. They point out that the air defense system in Syria even with Russian systems can be rendered inactive without much effort.
Grouped Articles
Jack Keane and Danielle Pletka: How to Stop Assad's Slaughter
Wall Street Journal 05/22/2013
Russia Outmaneuvers Obama Over Syria
Wall Street Journal 06/14/2013
Behind Obama's About-Face on Syria
Wall Street Journal 06/15/2013
Wall Street Journal 08/22/2013
Andrew Roberts: Syria's Gas Attack on Civilization
Wall Street Journal 08/25/2013
A Veteran Saudi Power Player Works To Build Support to Topple Assad
Wall Street Journal 08/25/2013
A deterrent system to prevent the use of airspace by Libya's Gaddafi regime
03/09/2011
Different ways of implementing a no-fly zone to deny the use of any airspace by the Libyan regime.
Grouped Articles
No, Mr. President, staying out of Syria didn’t save lives. It cost them. - The Washington Post
Washington Post 02/16/2016
Wall Street Journal 03/09/2011
Rebel Leadership Casts a Wide Net
Wall Street Journal 03/10/2011
Syrian rebels feel abandoned, betrayed by U.S. - The Washington Post
Washington Post 08/08/2012
Iran's use of Iraqi airspace to supply arms to the Assad regime in Syria
09/04/2012
Grouped Articles
Clashes Carry Worries of a New Civil War
New York Times 04/28/2013
Why did Mr. Obama overrule his advisers on Syria? - The Washington Post
Washington Post 05/09/2013
New York Times 05/05/2013
Surge in Iraqi Violence Reunites Maliki and Obama
New York Times 11/01/2013
Iraq Crisis: Nouri al-Maliki Quits
Wall Street Journal 08/15/2014
New York Times 08/15/2014
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