Why a nervous Hillary Clinton is remarkably silent on Syria

Telegraph ^ | 8/30/13 | Nile Gardiner

[Libloather]

**SNIP**

I suspect a number of factors are behind Hillary Clinton’s reticence. Firstly, a US military intervention in the Syrian civil war is strongly opposed by the vast majority of the American public. A recent poll showed just nine percent of Americans backing US military involvement. She probably doesn’t see another war in the Muslim world as a vote winner in 2016. Secondly, she may well be harbouring doubts over the White House approach, which beyond the talk of airstrikes, lacks a coherent strategy, and the president hasn’t exactly made a clear-cut case that taking America to war in Syria is in the national interest. Thirdly, as “the Obama doctrine” goes down in flames in the Middle East, from Damascus to Cairo, Clinton will be nervous about being seen as part and parcel of it, which of course she is.

Fourthly, Clinton’s own track record on Syria has hardly been stellar. Before Syria descended into war, Clinton was a strong backer of engagement with Syria, greatly underestimating the nature of the Baathist regime, famously referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as a “reformer” in April 2011. In addition, as Washington’s most senior foreign policy official, Clinton did little to stand up to Moscow’s aggressive support for the Syrians, eager to appease the Russians through the controversial “reset” strategy, which was her own brainchild. In addition, the Secretary of State was weak in the face of Iran, whose military and financial backing for the Assad regime has been vital to its survival.

[Red6]

“the Obama doctrine”

What would Carter do? We are now seeing what would have happened had Carter won a second term.

[JLAGRAYFOX]

Hillary, like Obama, is dirty from head to toe!!! It is as simple as that!!! I’m sure you good folks can figure it out. Start with four dead American public servants in Benghazi!!!

[Qbert]

"...as “the Obama doctrine” goes down in flames in the Middle East, from Damascus to Cairo, Clinton will be nervous about being seen as part and parcel of it, which of course she is."

I can't help but think that somewhere in D.C., Elizabeth Warren is cackling very loudly right about now...

[trebb]

Just what the hell is the Obama Doctrine?

Incompetence and blame Bush (or any repub).

[Conspiracy Guy]

She looks more and more like Tip Oneil in a wig.

[Shannon]

Just what the hell is the Obama Doctrine?

I don't think anyone knows including Obama himself. I could take a guess and that would be, ruling by executive order and Valerie Jarrett.

[atc23]

The British Parliament rejection of Plan Zero is no big deal to the US state media - it happens all the time, why, the last time the BP voted against the PM who wanted a war was as recently as 1792.

this in no way reflects poorly on the Purple Lipped Perfumed Prince of Peace, our very own Lightbringer, Bathhouse Barry Dunham.

[llevrok]

I can't help but think that somewhere in D.C., Elizabeth Warren is cackling very loudly right about now...

That's not cackling. That's the melodious sound of an aboriginal rain dance.

[Pan_Yan]

Have there been any articles posted on FR about the British Parliament's historic rejection of action against Syria?

There have been several including one in Breaking News with over a hundred replies.

[SVTCobra03]

I wouldn’t want to have to call zer0 or this cankle harboring beyotch, when there is a crisis, at 4AM.

At 4 a.m. 0bama would be too busy with Reggie and the Hildebeast would be too busy with Huma.

[al baby]

She looks more and more like my bag of walnuts after surfing

[yldstrk]

she helped create the folking mess, damn her

[clintonh8r]

They cannot possibly make Diane Lane ungly enough to play that in a movie.

[bgill]

She shouldn’t have a say since she is no longer “officially” on the government payroll.

[Carriage Hill]

I have Benghazi-Syria-Libya-Egypt-mb etc scheduled for 9/20. I’m still collecting articles and whatever I can find before it disappears down the rabbit hole.

[Seaplaner]

Mixing a few metaphors, when the going gets tough, the cowardly and weak stay out of the hot kitchen.

[Libloather]

That never stopped Madeleine Dimwit.

[Colinsky]

Just what the hell is the Obama Doctrine?

I believe the official definition of the Obama Doctrine is, "Oh, look, a squirrel."

[Rich21IE]

Apologize, Apologize, and then..........Apologize.

[TBP]

Because whatever she says has to be weighed in terms of her own burning ambitions, and because the Syrian rebels are allies of the people who murdered Ambassador Stevens and the other Americans. But then, “what difference does it make?”