Wow. I just read Obama’s speech and watched the video for good measure.
I was wondering how Obama was going to sidestep his promise to attack Syria if they used chemical weapons, and here he managed to do so by simply saying he wants to spread the “accountability” onto the backs of the American people’s representatives – when they come back from their extended vacation, and the issue is no longer on everyone’s mind, and not so important anymore, because by then a few thousand more Syrians (on both sides) will have been killed, but only by mere conventional weapons this time. Besides, the decision isn’t really time sensitive anyway.
Obama started his speech saying that Syria is making a mockery of the global prohibition against chemical weapons, but instead, his entire speech made a mockery of himself, proving he can’t keep his word and can’t be trusted to not try to find a way to weasel out of his obligations, no matter how short-sided he was to obligate himself to them in the first place.
He may even doublespeak the world again in a few weeks time, saying Assad learned his lesson about American resolve, and therefore there is no reason to actually have to go through with an actual attack.
There’s only one lesson here, and that’s for Mr. Netanyahu.
Bibi, if you still think for one second that Obama will help Israel against Iran, or forget Israel, that Obama will protect his other Middle East allies, much less the rest of the world, including the U.S., from a nuclear Iran, you are completely mistaken.
Iran now knows it can go full steam ahead with no consequences.
(Though I do admit, Obama will go tougher on Israel than on Syria or Iran, if we disrupt his grand plans of creating a Palestinian state for Hamas to take over).
Obama was dumb to promise to attack in the first place if chemical weapons were used, and is now even dumber to not follow through with it – even with a symbolic strike across the proverbial bow.
(He may still have to take some action in a month or two because of congressional pressure, but he will do so saying, “Wasn’t me, they made me do it”.)
If you’re negotiating with the Arabs in Ramallah, because you are relying on some empty promise by Obama regarding Iran – please stop now.
Yes, Obama says he is prepared to stop Iran’s nuclear weapons program. He’s prepared to give the order. He believes he has the authority to do so.
But the truth is, he will want to have a debate on it first. For the good of the country.
Sometime after the holidays.