Supporting "democracy" in Syria is quite possibly the stupidest American Policy since the Maine blew up in Havana harbor. In the first place, "majority rule" in these places means Islamic Rule. In Syria, the first unintended consequence (I hope it is unintended) means the massacre of Christians in a country that has possibly the oldest Christian tradition in the world. In the second place, there is no room for democracy within the Islamic tradition. The worthy oriental gentlemen under whose arses Allah the All-Wise placed all that oil, don't have or don't want a clue about it.
The cleansing fires of Armageddon are central to the Shiite sect's (read Iran) idea of Muslim theology. In short: everyone on Earth must die, so that Infidels and Muslim heretics (i.e., non-Shiites) can serve as slaves of the faithful true Shiite believers in Firdous (Islam's Idea of a Whorehouse Heaven) for all eternity. Whereupon Allah, The All Merciful will seize the opportunity to remake the world as an all-Shiite leafy suburb with all mod cons.
PS, I wish TF I was making this up. Of course, I also wish I were making up the fact that today's dumbed-down, obese, tattooed, foreclosed, 20% unemployed, sorry excuse for an American electorate is all too capable of re-electing The Mombasa MF. The idea Obama is successfully selling them is, "... that the people who have caused the pain ... Team Obama ... ARE THE ONLY ONES CAPABLE OF CURING IT. So don't endanger the benefits taken from the wealthy and re-elect him!"
IMHO, the operative theory behind the admin policy is to:
(a)Keep Israel from attacking Iran
Definitely.
(b) this is because the admin fears it will mean the start of a much larger war
If Israel is the aggressor, most of the Middle East will say “Skip our differences for now, we'll sort them out later.” I respect the IDF more than almost any other force on the planet, but that would be an unsurvivable assault. It isn't 1967 any more.
(c)If there is to be any action against Iran, it is to be a US initiative.
This is the biggie. Obama wants to set the conditions, not get pulled into war by an ally. That would also play well to the Pentagon. Getting pulled into wars or police actions started by Allies - think Libya - doesn't sit well. sadly, the reverse never seems to be true!
(d)The Mombasa MF could very well be saving the region for his own “Wag the Dog” October Surprise action, in case the election really looks bad.
I honestly can't see this happening. His true believers might fall for it, but there was so much screaming when “Bush did it” that the majority of the electorate won't fall for it.
Supporting “democracy” in Syria is quite possibly the stupidest American Policy since the Maine blew up in Havana harbor. In the first place, “majority rule” in these places means Islamic Rule.
This is a problem. America is justly proud of democracy and for decades has had the sworn mission to spread democracy and the fundamental human rights around the globe. Unfortunately, he has precedent on his side here - and he is (supposedly) a lawyer. It is an easy spin for him.
Just an outsiders perspective.