Posted on 12/25/2016 10:03:46 PM PST by Mariner
The fall of the rebel-held Syrian city of Aleppo to Russian- and Iranian-backed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad sounds the death knell for the outgoing Obama administration’s hands-off counterterrorism doctrine, analysts say.
The final batches of anti-Assad fighters vacated formerly rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday, officially bringing the city — which was Syria’s economic and cultural hub before the war — under the regime’s control.
The fall of Aleppo was the biggest victory for government forces and their Russian and Iranian supporters since moderate rebel groups, emboldened by regional uprisings tied to the 2011 Arab Spring, attempted to overthrow the Assad regime and ignited the war six years ago.
But the fall was also a pivotal moment for the Obama administration, whose initial intractable stance against the Assad regime was translated into an indecisive policy aimed at defeating or sidelining America’s adversaries from a distance.
“There is no doubt [President Obama] will be hammered in historical terms. The question will be why he didn’t do more,” Aaron David Miller, a former presidential adviser on Middle East affairs, told Reuters.
Mr. Obama’s infamous “red line” warning in 2012 against Syria’s use of chemical weapons against rebel forces pushed Washington and Damascus onto a collision course, with U.S. warships anchored off of the Syrian coast ready to launch missiles on government targets.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
You’re one of these types that prefers to deny reality. We have been giving money, supplies, weapons and training to the Syrian rebels for a long time.
Yes of course. ISIL and a thousand other tribal gangs killing each other is no threat to Israel. And besides, if they do become a threat, America can come wipe them out for the sake of Israel. Nobody would complain about that either.
And that's because Israel wants Assad's war machine greatly reduced in power. But you're making the mistake in thinking that just because that's what they want, they also want him overthrown. Israel knows that "moderate rebels" replacing Assad in such a case is a pipe dream. As I said, in the power vacuum created in the event of the regime's collapse would quickly be filled by Islamic state loons, which certainly wouldn't be in Israel's interest. ...or in anyone else's except radical Sunnis. Caliphate types controlling Syria's chemical weapons stockpile isn't a sane option.
Therefore, they seek to keep Assad in power while at the same time seriously degrade his military. At this point (years into the fighting), it's close to mission accomplished -- ISIS and Co. isn't going to overthrow Assad, but the Syrian military is a shadow of what it was when the war started.
Ex-IDF chief Dan Halutz publicly expressed the truth 3 years ago.
I'm sure he was told never to do it again.
What’s up with the article’s Fake News lie that Obama was “hands off”??
Obama has U.S. SpecOps on the ground fighting in Syria against Assad.
I am not familiar with George Webb, wondering if you know his background (inquiring minds~my spouse~want to know).
I am trying to find a link I had seen that told about his background. His full name is George Webb Sweigert and he lives in Portland, Oregon.
Over on voat.co there is a pizzagate thread going on, and a few posts about George Webb. Here is another person who is investigating the Clinton Foundation/Hillary corruption and finding the same inner circle:
https://voat.co/v/pizzagate/1510482
That's either Neocon delusion or being quite naive.
So you are one of the people who think Israel is in control of the US Government and will do their bidding even against our own interests like spending more blood and treasure cleaning up more ME messes ?
I think Israel is quite capable of handling their own borders and tribal gangs running amuck threatening them.
Most of those who irrationally (to be kind about it) believe that .2% of the world's population (Jews) control both the U.S. and much of the rest of the world have been weeded out of FR over the decades, but a few still remain.
“And, to this day, NO ONE has been able to explain the need for being involved there.”
When I look at the muzzie invasion of Europe, and contemplate the rivers of blood that will have to flow, I wonder if that wasn’t Obunghole’s and Rotten Cankles’ mission in the Middle East: to create just that situation.
“You’re one of these types that prefers to deny reality. We have been giving money, supplies, weapons and training to the Syrian rebels for a long time.”
What the hell does us taking the wrong side of a war have to do with Israel. In case you Neocons haven’t noticed, Israel is SICK TO DEATH of your type, and in 25 days, the decades-long nightmare will be over.
“Sort of like kicking your asshole, but peaceful neighbor out of your neighborhood and bringing a lawless motorcycle gang to live there instead...”
Spot on. There are some anti-Semitic trolls here, says the Catholic.
It’s mostly Muslims killing muslims?
“It’s mostly Muslims killing muslims?”
True, but plenty of Christians on the receiving end too.
One nation bombs another regularly and "they are on the same page". We have others saying Israel is fighting ISIS in Syria. Why not just come out and say Israel and Syria are allies. You might as go well go all the way with these fantasies.
Russian intervention has tilted the scales, and Jerusalem is concerned of a regime victory, which would be victory for Iran as well. To prevent that, Israeli officials believe West must intervene in favor of moderate rebels.In fact, the war in Syria has largely served Israel’s interests. The ongoing fighting has worn down the Syrian army to a shadow of its former capabilities. Almost all of President Bashar Assad’s huge store of chemical weapons has been dismantled following an American-Russian arrangement forced on the Syrian dictator in the summer of 2013.
And Hezbollah, Israel’s main adversary in the north, has invested a quarter to a third of its manpower in fighting for the Syrian regime, and is losing dozens of fighters every month in battle. Official spokespeople do not say this publicly – there are things one cannot say when 470,000 people (according to recent accepted figures) are being massacred across the border – but Israel has been quietly wishing success to both sides and would not have been against the bloodletting continuing for a few more years without a clear victor.
I see. So, it's so much not that they dislike Assad, it's just that they want to see Syria reduced to ashes.
it's close to mission accomplished
Yes, 500,000 dead and a totally ruined nation.
Wrong on both counts. ...again.
1) They DO despise Assad. It's just that they'd prefer an Arab strongman like him to jihadi crazies like ISIS / AQ. And those are the only two options for people living in the real world.
2) I clearly said that Israel wants Assad's war machine degraded, not the country itself turned to ashes and hundreds of thousands of its people killed.
Israel didn't start this war, nor did they want it. In fact they warned the Obama admin. countless times that their "Arab Spring" meddling would turn into a regional disaster. And they were right. ...again.
But given the FACT of a war they didn't want to see, they certainly didn't want those who aim to bring about an Islamic caliphate to win. And who would? ...other than jihadis nutcases and their enablers.
Nice deflection....
Your post has nothing to do with what I responded to in this post of yours..
——Yes of course. ISIL and a thousand other tribal gangs killing each other is no threat to Israel. And besides, if they do become a threat, America can come wipe them out for the sake of Israel. Nobody would complain about that either. ——
America can come and wipe them out is the delusional part I was referring to...
Yep. 500,000 dead is an implementation detail. Mission accomplished!
Looks like you’d fall into the “caliphate enablers” category.
You and your comrade Obama.
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