The following article appeared in
Powerline on April 13th
By Scott
Johnson
President Obama drew his infamous
“red line” (“red line for us”) against the use of chemical weapons by the the
Syrian regime on August 20, 2012. It proved to be something of a Chamberlainite
red line “for
our time.” The Syrian regime employed chemical weapons against civilians in
Ghouta one year later, in August 2013. In the event, President Obama revealed
his “red line” to be imaginary. He invited Vladimir Putin to remove Assad’s
store of chemical weapons. President Obama counts it among his
proudest moments. ‘Twas a famous victory.
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Syrian President al Assad |
In truth, Obama ceded Syria to Russia
and Iran. He trusted (or entrusted) Putin. He looks like a chump, but I doubt
that he believed his own baloney. He had something else in mind. He wanted to
pursue his romance with the mullahs of Iran and didn’t want to do anything to
endanger it. On this point see Michael Doran’s Mosaic essay “Obama’s
secret Iran strategy.”
Funny thing about Obama. He
undermined our allies and empowered our enemies. Despite his claims to the
contrary, Obama did not achieve his professed objective.
Assad emerged with a store of
chemical weapons and the means to replenish his supplies. He used them last
year on April 4 to attack the town of Khan Shaykhun. President Trump sought to
let Assad know there was a new sheriff in town. He sent 59 Tomahawk cruise
missiles Assad’s way to take out the Shayrat Airbase (the source of the attack
on Khan Shaykhun) and create or restore deterrence against the use of chemical
weapons.
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Putin understands there is no longer a piss-ant in the White House |
Russian diplomacy has prevented
further investigation on the ground. The Russians are protecting their Syrian
client and lying absurdly about it. Of course, Putin himself is a murderer who
has found chemical weapons to be of use. The Russian obstruction constitutes circumstantial
evidence supporting the conclusion that Assad’s forces committed the attack.
President Trump spoke last night
shortly after he the attacks commenced. His statement is here.
Prime Minister May gave a statement followed by questions at a press conference
a few hours ago. Her statement is posted here.
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He'll do what is right, not simply expedient |
I found one passage of President
Trump’s statement jarring. Here it is: “I also have a message tonight for the
two governments most responsible for supporting, equipping and financing the
criminal Assad regime. To Iran and to Russia, I ask: What kind of a nation
wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and
children? The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. No
nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants
and murderous dictators.”
This passage has an unsavory Obamaian
twist, advising two murderous regimes to hang out with better friends. Like
Obama, Trump instructs Russia and Iran in their “true” interests, as though
either regime is itself something other than a rogue state. Indeed, Iran is a
murderous regime with genocidal aspirations. Only the “arc of history” was
missing from this passage.
President Trump is doing his best
under difficult circumstances to vindicate a “red line” against the use of
chemical weapons. I think it is to his credit and he is deserving of our
support.
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