I thank Slate for bringing this to my attention:
Secretary of State John Kerry’s case for a U.S. strike in Syria seems to rest on two assumptions. One, that it is a crucial test for U.S. national security and the values of the civilized world comparable to the rise of Nazi Germany. Two, that it’s not really a big deal….
Today, Kerry—now in Britain—issued an ultimatum to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, giving him one week to turn over his complete stockpile of chemical weapons, or else. Or else what?
Kerry said the Americans were planning an “unbelievably small” attack on Syria. “We will be able to hold Bashar al-Assad accountable without engaging in troops on the ground or any other prolonged kind of effort in a very limited, very targeted, short-term effort that degrades his capacity to deliver chemical weapons without assuming responsibility for Syria’s civil war. That is exactly what we are talking about doing – unbelievably small, limited kind of effort.”
I may not have much experience with brinksmanship, but it seems to me that threatening to hit someone becomes a lot less effective when at the same time you’re telling your friends,Don’t worry, I’m not going to hit him that hard. And convincing the public that this situation is analogous to the buildup to the largest war in human history is difficult when you’re also saying that an “unbelievably small” effort will be sufficient to deal with it. Given the blows the Assad regime has already absorbed over the last two years, it’s hard to imagine statements like these changing his thinking.
One wonders whether Bashar Assad is now laughing unbelievably hard…
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Kerry said Assad was like Hitler. Would we have bombed a toolshed in Hamburg in 1941 to show Adolph we were serious?
Kerry has been a disaster over the past two weeks. First Obama hung him out to dry and then he was left to throw anything that might stick out to try and make a weak case.
At least when Bush had Powell do his phony “dog and pony” show for the U.N. Powell knew how to ride the pony.
You can’t make this stuff up .
“A second senior official, who has seen the most recent planning, offered this metaphor to describe such a strike: If Assad is eating Cheerios, we’re going to take away his spoon and give him a fork.”
You have to have boots on the ground to take away his spoon and give him a fork.
Take away the boots on the ground and put them in stilettos
Now, I’m not saying we won’t get our hair mussed…
This isn’t “Wing Attack Plan R”. This is Operation: SMALL TABBOULEH
If we replaced his Cheerios with Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs, would that count as chemical warfare?
Top 5 things we could do that would the equivalent (or worse) of taking Assad’s spoon and giving him a fork:
1. Ordering a ton of pizzas to Assad’s palace! (Joke’s on you, Assad!)
2. Driving by the palace and throwing a lit string of Black Cats on his front porch.
3. Ring and run. (A venerable classic that in the middle east.)
4. Flaming bag of poo on the front porch.
5. Romney-esque holding Assad down and cutting his hair! (Too far?)
It seems that everything is going according to Obama’s plan:
“As a left-wing radical, Mr. Obama believed that the United States had almost always been a retrograde and destructive force in world affairs. Accordingly, the fundamental transformation he wished to achieve here was to reduce the country’s power and influence.”
http://on.wsj.com/1akYoFF
He’s a genius – passed Obamacare to destroy the health care system enough that people would accept single payer. Then purposefully botch Syria to prevent future Presidents from authorizing military action in foreign countries as easily as they had in the past.
What’s next? Pass an immigration bill that fails and results in full legal status for all illegals and open borders?
This is all like something out of a Mel Brooks film.
OPERATION: Teensy Weensy
OPERATION: This won’t hurt, you’re only going to feel a little prick.
OPERATION: TASTY HUMMUS
OPERATION: MILD INCONVENIENCE
Perhaps Obama, Assad, Putin and the other world leaders could all meet and discuss things. I recommend Tel Megiddo, a nice location in Northern Israel. See Revelation 16…
OPERATION: NEW JERUSALEM
This all seems too much like what Kerry and Hagel railed against in Vietnam Nam.
Who says we are just going to prick someone? Why did Kerry say any response would be “unbelievably small”? Who thinks that way when facing a neighborhood bully, let alone on the world stage?
If you are going to retaliate against a regime which has chosen to use chemical weapons, you hit them hard and sharp. You fight like you are fully committed to taking them down. You let up after bringing down the hammer. Not before. Otherwise, you don’t act. The problem is, they have said too much at this point.
Obama needs to articulate a clear plan on this soon, or major cabinet changes must occur. I can’t remember when such strategic miscalculations have been laid on so thickly by the White House.
Wait for bud’s reponse about GWB. It will come, sooner or later. And in spades. Believe it or not, now the media and the crazies over at MSNBC have taken up the cry that somehow Romney is to blame. Anything to deflect any blame away from Obama. This is the damndest thing I have ever witnessed in my entire life and I have been around for a long time.
The media will literally kiss Obama’s ass and protect him at every turn and the political cartoon today said it all. A little boy resembling Obama was standing with a crayon or marker in his hand and on the wall was a squiggly red line and a cartoon of Assad. The caption over the little boy was “I didn’t do it.” and the caption over the reporter was, “Oh, thank goodness.”
Hell, maybe John Kerry can stand on the Syrian border and toss some medals at them in protest the way he did at the White House protesting the Vietnam War. After all, he didn’t throw his own medals over the fence, they were bought at a military surplus store. A symbolic gesture just like the one he and the other war time hero, Obama, are proposing for Syria.
The US does not need to take military action against Syria in any manner at this point, it would be totally useless due to the complete and total incompetence of the White House and Kerry. Now, Susan Rice is going to tell us why it is important to take action against Syria. What the hell? This is the same Susan Rice who went on several different television shows spouting the White House version of why four people were murdered in Bengazhi because of a 10 minute, poorly produced video?
At this point, Sarah Palin is beginning to look like a genius compared to the current administration and that is saying a lot. Hell, even Nikki Haley looks better than Obama’s “Keystone Cops” adminstration.
” Now, Susan Rice is going to tell us why it is important to take action against Syria. ”
You know, Bart, this all started right around the time Miley Cyrus did her twerking routine on the MTV awards. Connect the dots.
This blog needs more twerking.
And just for the record, I believe I was the first one to use the term “twerk” or “twerking” in the comment section, about 6 months ago.