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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Allies frustrated by U.S. caution over Syria

2013-03-17

Decisions by France and Britain to step up direct support for Syrian opposition forces, possibly with arms shipments to the rebels, threaten to leave the United States on the sidelines of what many see as the approaching climax of a two-year effort to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

That may be precisely where the Obama administration decides to stay, once it concludes a renewed internal debate over whether to pursue a more aggressive policy in Syria.

The Brits and French are welcome to intervene. They have navies to control the Syrian coast, air units to control the skies, and military units that can coordinate with the rebels. They even have a carrier for a week or two each year when the Charles de Gaulle can take to the sea. If they can't handle Syria without us then they're simply not serious about being world leaders. If that's the case they should give up their Security Council seats and step back to being regional powers.

But U.S. hesitation has frustrated some of the United States closest European and Middle Eastern friends, who say that the time for debate is fast running out. More than 70,000 have been killed and millions have fled their homes. The raging conflict has begun to spill over Syrias borders, and there is no negotiated end in sight.

Were at the point where we have to show some real progress, said a senior official from a Middle Eastern government that actively supports the Syrian rebels. Sophisticated weapons that could help break a months-long military stalemate in and around Damascus and consolidate rebel gains in other parts of the country, he said, could finally convince regime supporters to break with Assad and hasten his downfall.

Anti-Assad governments in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, are privately acerbic in their assessment of U.S. dithering. The Europeans express more understanding, even as they question whether the Obama doctrine of close coordination on issues of shared foreign policy concern is viable if the United States declines to participate.

It slightly undermines the model established with the military intervention in Libya, a senior European official said. There, President Obama took credit for organizing and supporting a strategy implemented along with European and Persian Gulf partners.

We would hope the Americans would join us on Syria, the official said.

The Euros need the political cover, the air transport and the cash...

British Prime Minister David Cameron backed the call to end the embargo and appeared to directly address U.S. concerns in a Brussels news conference.

I think its worth taking on for a moment the two arguments that the opponents of change make. The first is that what is required in Syria is a political solution, not a military solution. Well, of course people want a political solution . . . but this is not an either-or situation, Cameron said, adding that political progress was more likely if democratic opposition forces were seen as growing stronger.

Posted by:Steve White

#6 Next time wrap a phone book around that Louisville Slugger. It won't leave such a distinguishable mark.

Posted by: Besoeker 2013-03-17 16:20

#5 Cold Pappy, damn cold. What's it like running down a slow moving barge?

::

Posted by: Shipman 2013-03-17 15:20

#4 Bingo, Pappy.

Posted by: Barbara 2013-03-17 11:13

#3 I don't think you have friends- period.

Posted by: Pappy 2013-03-17 09:10

#2 Why would we WANT to "intervene" in Syria? WHY would we want to intervene in Syria? Why would we want to intervene in SYRIA?

Its FULL of Moslems. Are Syrians our friends? Have they EVER been our friends? Do you suppose they ever WILL be our friends?

And there seems to be some need by WHOM to "help" the Syrians? WHY would we want to help them, what is in it for us?

Lets watch them KILL EACH OTHER. And what is this stuff about "our Middle Eastern friends"? Be serious.They aren't really our friends....are they? What? like the French are our friends? Take ten Frenchmen and stand them up and see how many want to shake your hand. Take ten French women and stand them up and tell them to shave.

Have you ever had a Syrian "friend"? Neither have I.

Posted by: Threater Flusoper9823 2013-03-17 07:55

#1 The old saying "you and whose army?". There is an another army in the area which could kick butt, but the EUs have treated its nation as crap to make political hay in their last days gambit of self importance.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-03-17 01:08

00:00