“We have been very clear to the Assad regime, but also to other players on the ground, that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus,” Obama said. “That would change my equation. . . . We’re monitoring that situation very carefully. We have put together a range of contingency plans.”
"In July, he warned that Assad would be “held accountable by the international community” if he made the “tragic mistake” of deploying chemical munitions."
So, let me see if I have this straight.
The President warned Syria and Assad that if they used chemical weapons on their own people, that would be a game changer and would cross a red line, and there would be consequences. In his own words, "held accountable."
Then, the Americans, in their own minds anyway, say they are satisfied that there is irrefutable proof that Syria did that exact thing they were warned against, the thing that would be a "tragic mistake." So, The President went to Congress to get the okay to bomb Syria. And got it.
But, it isn't popular, so now that Russia has stepped in and decided they don't want another cold war that could lead to nuclear bombs being set to fire, ala the Cuban Missile Crisis, over something like a small (yet not insignificant) civil war in Syria, it seems that Syria is allowed to use chemical weapons on its own people. The punishment is to "not do it again" and "give us all the ones you have left so you can't do it again" and it is "okay you did it when we told you and warned you not to do it" in the first place. Oh, and by the way, after we destroy all the ones you have now (that you said you didn't use on your own people, but seem to have a lot of for no reason anyway) you can eventually just get more and then use them again. Don't worry, we wont bomb you, we will just threaten to do that so the world knows we are very powerful and stand on the moral high ground.
I am not in favor of bombing Syria in the first place. But, if you are going to be the world leader and stand on the moral high ground, when you say there will be consequences and you mean that to be that you will bomb the crap out of the Syrian Government forces so they get the message that you will not tolerate that sort of behavior, then you bomb the crap out of them. Otherwise, nobody gives a rats ass what you say you will do.
Much like a parent who promises to punish their kid for bad behavior, but yet when said bad behavior comes, they do nothing. Or maybe they tell them that they will do something...next time, but you are giving them a freebie this time. Except that next time, you let them walk away from it scott free as well. Because they know, and you know, that your word and your threat mean jack squat.
Yes, President Obama, you are the dog thats bark is much worse than his bite. In fact, you are the dog that barks and the robbers walk right past you. Because you are that dog that is more likely to lick the face of the robbers than defend his own property.
Now, I understand that America is fading in the terms of world superiority, and it is important to show the world you still have the biggest stick in the land. It is all you have left, that mighty army of yours. China and Russia sure don't want to bomb Syria. Neither does Canada, or Britain, or just about any other country. They know it is a waste of time. Because if you are going to do it, you would have done it ages ago, and if you were, or are going to do it, you don't just hurt them. You cripple them and you make sure they are eliminated. But that would mean real war, real casualties on your side and a shitload of money to do it. Money and will for sacrifice that you don't have.
So, next time, if you are just going to be the lip service president that you have been from day 1, just shut up. At least let them think you are the world leader. Don't show them that you aren't.
Where I come from, if you say you are going to do something if someone does something and then they do that something, you do exactly what you said you were going to do. Otherwise, what you say means nothing.
"Actions speak louder than words"
Keep up the illusion. That is all you have (had) anyway.
I'm not saying bomb Syria. I am saying that if you say you are going to do it, then you do it. Otherwise, don't say it. The worst thing you can do as a leader is say you will do something and then not follow through. What happens the next time, when Obama makes another threat? Likely, the crazy nut who is running whatever regime that is threatened will just ignore him. Why? Well, he threatened Assad and now he didn't actually do anything. So, that is what we can expect from him this time.
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