The Obama doctrine in Syria and elsewhere: Washington Post

By Jennifer Rubin

We’ve heard all the rote lines from the White House. Bashar al-Assad is a “reformer” became “Assad must go!” Then we migrated to “Assad is done. Only a matter of time.” Then we heard that use of chemical weapons would be a “game changer.” Then: “We’ll look into it.”

Forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 
(Rami Bleible/Reuters)

In fact, Assad was never a reformer, President Obama never intended to do much to oust him, the red line was an empty threat (no one knows what has happened to that investigation), although France, Israel and even the lowly United Nations have concluded chemical weapons have been used. Oh, and while we were dawdling Russia, Hezbollah and Iran have been madly arming Assad.

If you assumed that everything the administration has been saying about Syria is untrue (a good practice, whatever the topic), then it should come as no surprise that Assad now has the upper hand. The New York Times headline says it all: “Rebels’ Losses in Syria Complicate Options for U.S. Aid.” Sure when you do nothing while the other side gets help, aid options get complicated. Or, “Assad wins, United States has blown it.”........................

FULL ARTICLE HERE: The Obama doctrine in Syria and elsewhere