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The Spectacle Blog
When President Obama gave a speech before the State Department on May 19th concerning the Middle East and North Africa, he made the following remarks about the unrest in Syria:
The Syrian people have shown their courage in demanding a transition to democracy. President Assad now has a choice: He can lead that transition, or get out of the way. The Syrian government must stop shooting demonstrators and allow peaceful protests.
Predictably, Assad has ignored Obama and his regime has continued to shoot demonstrators. It is estimated that 77 children have been killed by Syrian forces. Actually, make that 79. Two boys (aged 12 and 13) were killed today in separate attacks in Homs and al-Kasweh.
So what is President Obama going to do to ensure that Assad gets out of the way? Not a damn thing. Assad has no reason to modify his behavior. With President Obama announcing troop withdrawals from Afghanistan before General Petraeus has finished his work and taking a back seat in Libya, Assad has no reason to take anything Obama says seriously. If Colonel Qaddafi is still hanging on Libya then Assad isn’t getting out of the way anytime soon.
Besides it’s not like Assad is doing anything that would truly offend President Obama’s sensibilities like constructing Jewish settlements.
View all comments (37) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/06/24/obama-isnt-serious-about-syria
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l5j6| 6.24.11 @ 12:13PM
Maybe just maybe, Beltwary Elite, his upbringing, as a muslim boy, his father a mulism (and a true communist), his mentor (Frank Marshall Davis) a Black Panther and communist, his maternal grandparents - loony lefties......maybe all these things DID ACTUALLY INFLUENCE him, like we all are the product of our influences.
But no, the political class and the Commentariat, just look in awe at his great intelligence! What a hoot!
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 10:54PM
There is no polite way of saying this so I will give it to you straight: your cliched, ideological bullshit is inane. And, so are you.
Timothy L. Pennell| 6.25.11 @ 8:06AM
Let's take a look at what our young Boy King has done, so far.
He's sided with the "PROTESTERS" in EGYPT, but, did NOTHING, while the "PROTESTERS" were shot in the streets, in IRAN.
He's siding with the "PROTESTERS/FREEDOM FIGHTERS" in LIBYA, yet does NOTHING, as the "PROTESTERS in SYRIA are slaughtered by the Regime.
He sides with a would be DICTATOR - Zelaya - in HONDURAS, and AGAINST our Ally - HONDURAS - when he is Constitutionally REMOVED, by the Honduran Army, on the orders of the Honduran Congress, and it's Supreme Court.
There's a lot of Smart people, on this sight.
Anyone see a PATTERN?
He's SERIOUS about SYRIA. And IRAN. And VENEZUELA and RUSSIA and the PALESTINIANS.
Don't mistake his actions as incompetence. He knows EXACTLY what he's doing.
Red Phillips | 6.24.11 @ 12:25PM
Aaron, what exactly would a "serious" President be supposed to do about Syria? Last I checked, Obama was President of the United States, not President of Syria or the Middle East. Did I miss something? Has Syria recently become the 51st state?
solidground| 6.24.11 @ 1:06PM
For starters, how about withdrawing our ambassador? Which begs the question: Why in hell did we send one in the first place? But of course, recalling Robert Ford (not the same craven coward who shot Mr. Howard) might be construed by Syria as a slap in the face, and we certainly don't want that, now do we?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....83005.html
Red Phillips | 6.24.11 @ 6:24PM
BTW, the Bruce Springsteen version of that song is really good.
http://www.amazon.com/Shall-Ov.....31&sr=8-37
Oldefarte| 6.24.11 @ 3:49PM
Red, I think Aaron's point maybe is that he's actively involving this country military etc in Egypt and in Libya, but amazingly ignores the comparable slaughters within Iran and Syria. Of course, he's also has politically demeaned Israel, so that should indicate to most of us at least a partial implication of his true intentions, maybe????????
Occam's Tool| 6.24.11 @ 6:28PM
Syria has been an ally of our enemies for a long time, Red. Like, say, Iran. You see, fighting enemies counts, too.
Obama is not serious about anything from a defense perspective except the absolute minimum that he can do to put on a show of fighting terrorism, so that he has plausible deniability in the event of a WMD strike on the US. Otherwise, he offends allies and plays golf rather than concern himself with the maintenence of American financial/military influence and power, which he actively despises.
Ron Paul, however, would be worse.
Red Phillips | 6.24.11 @ 9:09PM
"rather than concern himself with the maintenance of American financial/military influence and power"
Our financial "power" is HARMED by our perceived need for military influence and power. Empire bankrupted Britain. It will bankrupt us as well.
Red Phillips | 6.24.11 @ 9:09PM
And it didn't work out so well for Rome, I might add.
WJ| 6.24.11 @ 12:26PM
Another war to take care of an enemy of Israel. While we are at it, let's just admit Israel to the USA as the 51st state and be done with it. That way, we can collect taxes from them instead of paying tax dollars to them.
Listen up. We have no damn business "ensuring Assad gets out of the way".
Occam's Tool| 6.24.11 @ 6:29PM
WJ:
Syria is an ally of Iran, which captured our embassy in 1979 for reasons that had nothing to do with Israel.
Bob K.| 6.25.11 @ 7:54AM
Syria is 70% Sunni Muslim which is why Iran, a Shiite state, supports the minority Alawite sect which rules Syria and which numbers less than 15% of Syria's population. ("The enemy of my enemy is my friend." A muslim maxim.)
Once the Sunni Moslems take control of Syria, Israel will be, for all intents and purposes, surrounded by unfriendly Sunni States. It is not likely that this will result in any optimistic predictions for Israel's survival either.
Be careful what you wish for! Israel might be better off now with the internecine feud Syria is undergoing than it will be when it is settled.
PattyMor| 6.24.11 @ 12:59PM
Syria was just another chance to: (1) carryout the foreign policy aims of George Soros, (2) waste more money, and (3) subordinate the U.S. troops to the U.N. and Nato. How many more months until the Obamalini nightmare is over?
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 11:20PM
Foreign policy aims of George Soros?
Patty, I'm giving you a PMS bye on this one, but don't ever post anything so stupid again or I will be forced to concluded that you are, well, let's use the euphemism... slow.
Oldefarte| 6.24.11 @ 1:27PM
Of course he's not serious about Syria. He picks winners and losers in his discriminatory middle eastern policy. He against Egypt, Libya, Saudia Arabia, Jordan; but he's for Syria, Iran etc. What does that tell anyone with average intelligence? Why does he want the entire middle east to become one large Iran? Any guesses????????????
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 3:47PM
Goldstein,
This is total bullshit. If Obama does anything about Syria you bastards will be all over him.
Fuck you!
Oldefarte| 6.24.11 @ 3:51PM
Mike, what INTELLIGENT comments. Your mother must be really proud!!!!!!!!
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 3:59PM
I addressed my remark to Goldstein. Take Christie's advice and mind your own business.
David W| 6.24.11 @ 4:29PM
When you use language like that you address the remarks to all. Grow up.
Occam's Tool| 6.24.11 @ 6:30PM
No, not necessarily. We weren't "all over him" when he killed Bin Laden. We weren't "all over him" when the Seals killed the Pirates.
Sir, American power should be used to advance American interests.
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 7:51PM
The praise was faint until the criticism resumed. Nice try. But I'm not buying it.
Clint| 6.24.11 @ 10:23PM
Seal Team 6 killed bin Laden, Not The Neo-Chickenhawk Obama.
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 10:46PM
Who order the assault, you fucking idiot?
I mean, Clint, how stupid can you be?
Clint| 6.25.11 @ 8:16AM
Remember This Little ObammaBoy Fuck, Mickey.
SEAL TEAM 6 KILLED OBAMA.
Clint| 6.25.11 @ 8:39AM
WHY ?
Because Now, The 2012 Elections Will Be All About Jobs & The Economy.
Americans Will Vote Their Wallets.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Carpe Diem.
JP| 6.24.11 @ 7:28PM
Mike,
Yes! That's the ticket! Heck, Bush loved Syria. Do you really think Obama will do something to Foggy Bottom's favorite terrorist state? Not even Iran gets the kind of kids gloves treatment Syria gets. The President could no more "do something" about Syria than the Cubs could do anything about thier lousy pitching. Get with the program.
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 8:05PM
A stupid baseball analogy is all you have to contribute to this conversation? Thanks. But, please stay in the dugout.
In the meantime, Goldstein, you criticize the President about Iraq, about Afghanistan, about Libyan and now, for completely different reasons, about Syria. God damn you, you hypocritical son of a bitch. And, don't give me any bs about you didn't, I'm talking about the whole stinking AmSpec staff.
I invite the peanut gallery to STFU and let Goldstein speak door himself.h
Bob Grant| 6.24.11 @ 9:51PM
Invitation declined.
Bob Grant| 6.24.11 @ 9:48PM
Obama has a blood lust for the easy, perfunctory, actions with little political liability (Somali pirate take downs, ,Afghanistan troop surges, and going after Ghadaffi under the UN umbrella) but is AWOL when it comes to the gut-wrenching decisions real commanders-in-chief must make from time to time.
To make matters worse he talks like Patton but acts like Carter. Assad knows Obama doesn't have the stomach for a real confrontation.
I would prefer he not get involved in any military adventure (like Libya) if his only motivation is to appear tough and not to win. This seems more dangerous than doing nothing. It exposes how weak he really is.
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 10:29PM
"Obama has a blood lust for the easy, perfunctory, actions with little political liability...."
You seem to have lost your balls on Osama bin Ladin, Bob. Was it Osama bin Ladin or Seal Team 6? Which was is it, you idiot?
Talks like Patton buts acts like Carter. There is no polite response to this so I will simply tell the truth: You are full of shit.
You should have declined the invitation.
Goldberg, I'm waiting for your response asshole.
You have nothing but criticism for the President no matter what he does. Your fucking amen corner is incapable of doing anything but ratifying your bullshit. I'm sick of this crap.
I'm waiting for your response, Goldstein, you fucking pussy.
Bob Grant| 6.24.11 @ 11:19PM
Uh, I'm guessing since you've insulted the author about 2 dozen times he will not be responding to you :-)
I'll give you 100 to 1 odds that he wont.
Mike| 6.24.11 @ 11:44PM
Bob,
I won't take the bet because I know he won't . The position of AmSpec is that the president can't do anything right. The goal of the GOP is to defeat Obama at any cost.
Why engage in the ridiculous pretense that there is some great philosophical underpinning to these discusions?
Oh , wait. There is. Grover Norquist explained it: to undo every reform from Theodore Roosevelt's Square Deal to the current health care act.
Bob Grant| 6.24.11 @ 11:54PM
One person's "reform" is another's tyranny.
Mike| 6.25.11 @ 12:10AM
Thanks for the cliche, Grant.
Let me give you another: one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.
Applicable for many situations. Be sure you are on the right side when you use it.
junkyard infidel| 6.25.11 @ 12:38PM
congratulations mike, you're todays poster troll for liberal/progressive/democrat party of fisting ignorance and irrelevance ! please keep spewing your ignorant mental flatulence ! it's f*cking hi-larious !
yisong| 10.30.11 @ 10:14PM
single row four point contact ball slewing bearing . http://www.1stbearaing.com