Aid for Syria rebels heightens need for continuing caution
·
THROUGHOUT THE long Syrian uprising, President Obama’s sense of caution has been
well-placed. He is aware of how US involvement in the Middle East can alter
perceptions of the very groups that Americans aim to assist. He is rightly
conscious of the need to engage allies and build coalitions before taking any
steps that may lead to deeper entanglements. Now, as the United States
increases its role in the Syrian conflict, it must develop a clear sense of how
it can change the equation on the ground, and how those changes will advance
American interests.
Cassi Creek: I
seldom read the Boston Globe. It has a
somewhat different political viewpoint than I have. However, the recent addition of a paywall to
the Washington Post is going to cause me to seek other sources for news and
commentary. I understand that financial
concerns are causing many newspapers to change their business practices. I can’t use most of the material presented in
any major urban newspaper. The only
content I want every day is national/international news and editorial/opinion
content. I have no need for “sports”
pages, classifieds, and rarely any need for anything else. That limitation extends to the local newspaper
we already subscribe to, more from habit than for actual news content.
The decision
to arm the Syrian rebels is, I think, a dangerous and flawed move in the
politics of the Middle East There are no sectarian rebel groups in Syria, only
shades of Islamic power struggles.
There are
sufficient small arms in the region to equip an old Soviet Motor Rifle
division. The rebels don’t need more
small arms. They want, but should not be
provided, anti-aircraft weaponry and their own theater range rocketry. If we are foolish enough to provide those,
they will only wind up in the hands of the various Islamist rebels. Then, if we allow our nation to be sucked
more deeply into another proxy war with Iran, they will be turned against tour
own aircraft and air crews.
This conflict
in Syria is going to become a horribly costly and brutally waged internecine
war among the various sects of Islam. We
will be the eventual target for all the current and future jihadists. The struggle for supremacy between Shia and
Sunni will last for decades yet. Since
the major contestants for victory and possession of the “holy places” are Iran
and Saudi Arabia, and since both have oil resources to pay for their own
weaponry, we should provide only nutrition assistance to the anti-Assad
groups. We can continue to backstop
Turkey as they request, Jordan, and Israel.
The remainder of nations in the region can fight amongst their selves
until they no longer have sufficient forces to fight nor any further financial
backing from the two principals.
I’ve seen
this video before. I don’t vare to see
it again.
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