Imminent mistakes in Syria

[kandrathe]

Well, now it seems that a peaceful option is the most likely. Just get rid of the chemical weapons.....even though this of course doesn't help any of the civilians over there......indeed it is just to make us feel better that we did something.

The off the cuff red line comment by Obama (believing that Syria would never use them) that got him committed to doing something, is being resolved by an off the cuff remark by Kerry (Oh, sure, if they'd give over their chemical weapons, but that will never happen).

Political theater at its finest.

The Kudos need to go to the Russian foreign minister who seized upon the opportunity to create a win-win-win-win-lose scenario. The only loser, as you point out are the Syrian people, who are slowly losing to Assad's planes, tanks, artillery, and trained army. Obama, and France can save face by getting something done without lobbing some random cruise missiles. The Russians keep Assad in power, and thereby their base in the Med. Assad gets to win his civil war with Russian help. And, perhaps even the UNSC might end up not appearing to be useless.