tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034478.post6166212748262194917..comments2024-03-28T03:23:26.359-04:00Comments on Doug Ross @ Journal: For American Foreign Policy, No Good Options [Stratfor]Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034478.post-81242652896708984702013-05-09T13:19:31.080-04:002013-05-09T13:19:31.080-04:00I believe the article confuses Obama's inactio...I believe the article confuses Obama's inaction with policy.<br /><br />"The answer may be exactly what Obama is doing now in Syria: modestly assisting some of the rebel groups, but essentially avoiding the level of involvement that would make him henceforth responsible for events on the ground."<br /><br />Passively allowing Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey to arm the "rebels," is not a policy. If it is, it is incompetent for that is exactly what Obama did in Libya and the arms went to al Qaeda who used them to attack an oil field and Mali.<br /><br />The only reason Obama takes this passive approach is because his actual policies are so horrible. He genuinely believes (while surrounding himself with like minded people) Islamic terrorism is a reaction to U.S. policies rather than ideology. His policy is one of support for groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood thinking these powerful groups will be friendly with the U.S. in return. He fails to recognize the Muslim Brotherhood is an Islamic totalitarian group. This strengthens the Muslim Brotherhood who exploit their benefactor while fully aware their host is dreamer. At the same time, Obama ran from Iraq, emboldening al Qaeda. He now runs from Afghanistan, again emboldening Islamists. They think they are winning and Obama is weak. Now there is a coalition of these Islamist groups in Syria and Obama is allowing them to be armed through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Obama thinks doing so will cause the "rebels" to embrace western ideas just as he thought they would embrace western ideas in Egypt and Libya.<br /><br />Obama is wrong. The article is wrong. <br /> <br />It should be our policy to discourage Islamists from taking power by not supporting them and discouraging their support. Being a squish and allowing others to arm Islamists in hopes they'll be your friend is not a policy; it is delusional thinking.<br /><br />And Obama does own Libya, Syria, and Egypt. At least to those paying attention. To the press and the U.S. voter, well, ....<br />forget it. Trialdognoreply@blogger.com