Obama’s irresponsible “red line,” “game changer” comments come home to roost?
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Thursday the Obama administration is rethinking its opposition to arming Syrian rebels but has not made a final decision.
Asked during a news conference whether the Obama administration was rethinking arming the rebels, Hagel said, “Yes.” Asked why, he said, “You look at and rethink all options. It doesn’t mean you do or you will.”
On the positive side, this could just be another example of Chuck Hagel saying ill-advised and non-authorized things because he is not very bright.
But it does sound like a trial balloon. Most Americans have no idea where Syria is, while the majority of those who do know where it is still oppose US involvement in that country’s civil war. A secular dictator allied to Iran faces off against a rebellion mainly organized by the likes of the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda. Turkey and Iran may be using Syrian soil for their own proxy war against each other, and the Russians are involved too. US interests are only served if all parties involved could lose. We have no friends in that fight.
Update: Fox is now reporting that the Obama administration is looking at several possibilities, including lifting an arms embargo that would enable the rebels to obtain weapons, arming the rebels more directly, and establishing a no-fly zone over the whole country. None of these are good options, but Syria is not our fight.
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