Thursday, August 4, 2011

UN Resolution to Condemn Syria falls by the wayside

In an recent interview with Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency, President Obama stated, with regard to US/Russian relations, "We have been extraordinarily successful partners in moving toward reset."

Obama was referring to the 'reset' in U.S.-Russian relations that has [supposedly] been nurtured over the past few years as a result of his so called diplomatic expertise.

But unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth; Obama's reset button is merely an act of capitulation, which has enabled the Russians to dictate US foreign policy [and defense policy].

Case in point: Syria:

After months of inaction, the UN, with the support of the Obama administration, finally came out with a statement on Wednesday condemning the Syrian regime's bloody crackdown on civilian protesters.

The UN statement denounced "the use of force against civilians by the Syrian authorities", but, in a bow to Russia, and other countries allied with the Syrian regime, that had demanded a balanced statement faulting both sides for the bloodshed, it called for "an immediate end to all violence" and urged "ALL sides to act with utmost restraint..."

More importantly, a legally binding resolution drafted by West European countries was dropped in favor of the aforementioned [laughable] statement because Russia and China - allies of the Syrian regime - opposed such a resolution.

That's right, there was no UN resolution - just a measly statement, that was sufficiently balanced to satisfy Russia's [and the Syrian regime's] requirements.

So, how's the "reset" button coming along? Hmmm?

Another likely reason for the Obama administration's inaction toward the Syrian regime - aside from Russia's obstruction - is due to the fact that the President has staked his reputation on his diplomatic prowess and his ability to reach out to America's enemies. Hence, Obama desperately wanted to make nice with the Syrian dictator. Thus, he had hoped that Assad and his brutal security forces would find a way to quell the demonstrations so that he could re-engage with the enemy. But after several months of both bloody crackdowns and Obama looking the other way, Assad still doesn't have the situation under control.

Obama may be a pacifist, but he is also mindful of public opinion. He knows he can't play dumb forever and that eventually he must side with the protesters, even if it means alienating the Syrian regime and abandoning America's enemies.

On the flip side, however, Obama doesn't want to rustle Russia's feathers either, for that would not only bring irreparable harm to his infamous "Reset Button" and to his mythical and unfounded reputation as being a diplomat par excellence, it would also render both the 'Obama Doctrine' and the President's "New World Order" obsolete.

Obama's solution to the above quandary, apparently, is a laughable, lame UN statement with superficial, outward support for the Syrian protesters.

But at least the President managed to salvage his "Reset" button with the Russian regime.

And, maybe, just maybe, if Obama is lucky, Bashar Assad will - in due time - extricate himself from this mess, with some additional massacres, and everyone will live happily ever after....

No comments: