Obama's Divorce From Syrian Reality Nears Completion

The NY Times reports on the latest Team Obama fantasies from Syria. They open with a scary headline:

Russian Buildup in Syria Raises Questions on Role

LONDON — Russia’s military buildup in Syria now includes surface-to-air missiles as well as combat aircraft with air-to-air capability, deployments that raise “serious questions” about Moscow’s role in the region, Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday.

Russian officials have said that the purpose of the buildup at a base near Latakia, Syria, is to combat the Islamic State.

But the deployment of air defense systems and fighter aircraft — weapons that can be used against a conventionally armed foe but that have little utility against extremist fighters — has spurred concerns that Moscow’s goal is also to establish a military outpost in the Middle East.

...

“Clearly the presence of aircraft with air-to-air combat capacity” as well as “surface-to-air missiles raise serious questions, which is precisely why Secretary Carter talked with the Minister of Defense of Russia Shoigu yesterday,” Mr. Kerry said, referring to Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and Russia’s defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu.

The Russians might want a base? No kidding - just because Obama didn't want to leave troops in Iraq doesn't mean that no one else would want a base in the Mid East either.

But secondly, why would the Russians leave their troops hostage to NATO, the Israelis, the Saudi Air Force, or a rogue pilot from the Syrian military? Here is a tough question: would the Russians rather deal with the shootdown of a NATO jet over their base, or an accidental bombing by NATO of the Russian base, killing a dozen Russian advisors. Egyptian planes are shooting tourists, the Russian base surely shows evidence of military activity, and accidents happen. Why shouldn't the Russians be rerady for one?

And a second tough question Times reports might ask: Does the US have similar defense for its troops in Afghanistan? (I think they do!) Against what are they defending, the Taliban Air Force?

The Times eventually speaks with some voices of reason:

Other American officials suggested, however, that the deployment might simply reflect the Russian military’s standard defensive precautions as it established an air hub in a foreign country.

However, we revert quickly to fantasy, with John Kerry leading the latest seance:

“We need to get to the negotiation,” Mr. Kerry said at a joint news conference with Mr. Hammond [the British foreign secretary]. “That’s what we’re looking for, and we hope Russia and Iran, other countries with influence, will help to bring that about, because that’s what’s preventing this crisis from ending.”

“Right now, Assad has refused to have a serious discussion,” Mr. Kerry added, “and Russia has refused to help bring him to the table in order to do that.”

Geez, why can't Russia and Assad simply get on our agenda instead of persisting in following their own?

Mr. Hammond and Mr. Kerry each emphasized that Mr. Assad could not remain in power if there was to be a durable solution to the conflict, but they said that the timing of his departure during a political transition in Syria would be a matter of negotiation.

“It doesn’t have to be on Day 1 or Month 1,” Mr. Kerry said. “There is a process by which all the parties have to come together and reach an understanding of how this can best be achieved.”

“I just know that the people of Syria have already spoken with their feet,” Mr. Kerry added. “They’re leaving Syria.”

“Assad has to go,” Mr. Hammond added. “He can’t be part of Syria’s long-term future. But the modality and the timing has to be part of a discussion about a political solution.”

I can't shake the image of John Kerry sitting in the 34th row at Fenway Park screaming at the manager to pinch hit and later wondering why his advice was ignored. Unlike Putin, Barry Red Line won't be sending US troops. Are we threatening to spend another $500 million to train five more rebels? I don't think so. So other than some useless four-year old "Assad must go" pronouncements and talk of erasable red lines, what have we done and what are we willing to do to force Assad out?

C'mon - Obama needs Putin to keep the Iran deal on track and provide some semblance of stability in Syria. Unless Obama wants to link this to Crimea and the Ukraine and ease sanctions there, about all Putin needs is for Obama to put up or STFU.

 

Comments

[henry]

Russia and Syria don't listen to talking horses. (Whichever end is the front, Kerry has everyone fooled on that issue).

[Jeff Dobbs]

Maybe Kerry has gotten Victoria Beckham to be part of the negotiating team.

[Beasts of England]

Skeletor Shriver just said that Joe Biden has done more for fatherhood than any elected official. It's hard not deploy profanity following such a vapid remark. It really is...

[Sue]

Happy birthday to my sweet friends, C-Cal and JamesD.

[Beasts of England]

As a person who trends to social liberalism, I'm greatly an abortion agnostic when it comes to politics, but I'll hand it to Carly just as I hand it to Trump: with her strident attack on Planned Parenthood, she's driving the media narrative to an area that they'd rather not go.

[Beasts of England]

Hahaha!! Meet the Press won't show the video to which Carly referred. Booyah. Backatcha, libtards.

[lyle]

Happy BD, JamesD and centralcal!

[Buckeye]

Fornier and Kurtz discussing Trump's "failure" to correct the guy who called Zero a Muztard.

Both idiots quick to tsk, tsk.

Also said the media's job is to hold candidates accountable.

How about honest reporting and leave accounting to voters at the pools.

[Janet S.]

“We need to get to the negotiation,” Mr. Kerry said

I call that bold talk for a giant-faced doofus.

[Miss Marple]

I am always struck by how the people who really push abortion don't want to be confronted with the reality of it.

They are the same way about Islamic terrorism, the realities of the Chinese government, and the failed policies of the Obama presidency.

Probably a lot more issues I could think of, too. It's like they think saying something is the reality, and actual facts have no relevance. In fact, they refuse to be confronted with facts at all, hiding their eyes and living in a fantasy world.

[rse]

Happy BD James and cc.

[Beasts of England]

As I watch the press and lib pundits fawn over the Pope this morning, I'm reminded of a great comment from either JiB or Miss Marple: isn't it strange that they embrace his stance on economics and climate change but will totally ignore him on abortion and gay marriage.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--“Assad has to go,” Mr. Hammond added.--

Why? He is a miserable tyrant, but is there any evidence what would replace him would be better? Every indication is it will be much worse.
Prior to the war Syria was a disgusting hellhole but a stable one.
Booting Assad is relatively easy and a small, measurable goal.
Booting out the other side of the equation OTOH, which of course is the side that has destabilzed the region and caused the massive flood of refugees is difficult, costly and dangerous.

Solution? Let's do the quick, easy, short term thing even if it makes matters worse.

[Beasts of England]

Skeletor Shriver strikes again! She says the Pope is such a good politician that he makes conservatives think that he's a moderate. Keep those hits coming, baby!

[Miss Marple]

Beasts,

Kurtz had on Lauren Green and some squish lib about the coverage of the Pope and she said that exact thing. They pick the things they want to believe and ignore the rest. Meanwhile, the squish said that it was more about emphasis and tone of this pope, who is more "welcoming" and "forgiving", which makes me really irritated because I think Pope Benedict was one of the kindest and most forgiving of men.

At mass this morning we were warned that the Pope might say some things which might make us uncomfortable, but we should not fall prey to the press "interpreting" what he says, but rather go to the coverage on EWTN and other Catholic sources for somplete coverage.

[Janet S.]

Exactly, MM @ 11:50. Exactly.

They don't look back at the foundation of things...or look forward to the consequences of their ideas.

It is "in the moment", sounds nice/fun, feelings & emotion.

[matt]

Obama will announce that he's unilaterally sending in the transgender airborne with their rainbow parachutes and fairy dust machine guns.

They will confront ISIS by saying "hello, Sailor!"

[Old Lurker]

Where IQs sum to 100: "Fornier and Kurtz discussing..."

[DebinNC]

Kerry's idea of "negotiation" is "Where do I sign?"

"Age is just a number, and mine's unlisted" ... but happy, happy birthday, CC and James D.

[Janet S.]

As a person who trends to social liberalism, I'm greatly an abortion agnostic when it comes to politics, but I'll hand it to Carly just as I hand it to Trump: with her strident attack on Planned Parenthood, she's driving the media narrative to an area that they'd rather not go.

Yeah, BoE. Even people that support abortion should wonder why everyone must subsidize that multi million-dollar business with tax dollars.

And why does a supposedly "pro-women" business fight every health & safety regulation? How is that "pro-women"?

If pro-abortion people don't read pro-life sites at least SOMETIMES, they have NO IDEA what they are supporting. The MFM just do not report all the negative stories of death & filth at those clinics. It is very common.
I never realized it until a few years ago.

[Beasts of England]

Glad to hear that, Miss Marple! I drove by the EWTN offices the other day when I was near Birmingham - I had forgotten that it was started in Alabama...

[DebinNC]

If all the candidates would follow Hillary's practice and have audience members sign loyalty oaths before entering, we wouldn't have to endure non-pc questions at all.

[Beasts of England]

The push-back against safety is striking and revealing, Janet. The abortion proponents went nuts when our governor signed a law requiring hospital admitting privileges for such clinics.

[Miss Marple]

Mother Angelica led me to the Catholic faith, all because I first saw her on a Today Show interview.

Lauren Green also said that the Pope's experience comes from Latin America, which has a large number of poor, a small and powerful upper class, and an almost non-existent middle class. He is not familiar with the United States and how people can rise from poverty through hard work and creativity.

She hoped he would learn about our middle class and how they are a source of great prosperity here. (He's not going to hear that at the White House, though.)

[Buckeye]

Good point Iggy about Assad.

At this point probably academic what Hammond thinks, Putin will be calling the shots.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Every pol who is confronted by MFMers lying out their pansy asses about what is on the PP videos should demand that their network show them so viewers can see for themselves.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The conservative case against Carly Fiorina.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Beasts I am reluctantly pro abortion but the ghoulish zealots on the baby killing side disgust me which I can't say about anybody on the pro life side.

[Jack is Back!]

Happy Birthday to JamesD, writer extraordinaiie and CC, our flower lady:)

I watched the Papal mass today from Havana and he was pretty moderate (for him) in his homily - more about getting closer to God and hoping that the Castro regime will do more to allow religious freedom in the country. [And for CH] - All while a huge display of Ché looked down on His Holiness instead of of one of Jesus - a very sad juxtaposition.

After mass he then mean't with I presumed to be the high muckety-mucks of Cuba including women in designer garb and pearl necklaces. There being no narration or color commentary, I can only presume the lady in Pravda and Hermés was Raul wife.

They kept the unwashed and poor away today. He'll wash their feet later. He was also the first Pope to say the mass totally in Spanish. John Paul II was a linguist and spoke Spanish but I guess he never said a full mass in that language.

With the festive latin and christian music is was a lot more fun and satisfying than watching Rove News Sunday or the other propaganda editions of news.

[clarice]

Good idea about the videos, CH

[Miss Marple]

Ignatz,

I never thought she was a Conservative, but she is more conservative than some, and certainly a very good person on abortion and trade.

Like I have often said, my opinion is just that, and my vote comes in May, by which time this will be decided anyway.

That writer seems to think that someone else wouldn't have Carly's baggage, which is true. Each will have his own baggage, because that is how the dems operate. All one has to do is look at how Romney, McCain, and Palin were treated.

She does have the advantage of being able to explain complex policies so that the general public can understand.

[Miss Marple]

I meant to say "a good person on abortion and national defense."

[Beasts of England]

All the women in Cuba wear Pravda and Hermès, JiB. It's a workers' paradise!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Look at the wonderful choices smartass diplomacy and soft headed power have given us;
A Syria with Assad and now also with a powerful Russian presence or a Syria ruled by fanatics that are so insane other fanatics declare them apostates.

At a cost I consider too high W increased US influence in the ME and produced the conditions that led to a minimal but measurable moderation of many of the state actors there.
God only knows what the cost is going to be of President Pandora's idiotic unleashing of the semi bottled up demons for which the ME has been justly infamous for millenia.

[DebinNC]

There are only 5 PP centers in GA, pop. 10M. Four perform abortions, but not the one in overwhelmingly black Atlanta. No centers in the black-belt south of Atlanta encompassing Macon, Valdosta, and Albany either. Very odd.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Just an aggregator, MM.
I should use one of those "the management of this station neither endorses nor necessarily agrees with the following opinions" disclaimers. :)

[matt]

Went to the California Republican Convention yesterday. It was pretty pathetic. The candidates don't even bother to attend anymore. Arnold making the primaries a free for all helped kill any sense of party except that of the Party.

Larry Elder spoke to the Tea Party Caucus, which was @ 1/3 full if that and there is a major schism between the party elite, who were nowhere to be found and the TP'ers.

It deeply saddens me that we have drifted so far.

[Jane]

The left response to the PP videos is:

"There is no evidence that PP harvests fetal tissue for profit."

[Miss Marple]

I just got an email invite to a fundraiser for Jeb! from a guy who was a former GOP chair for Indiana. Co-chairs are a bunch of people I don't know, the former head of Eli Lilly, and some people with Hispanic surnames.

Also a former gubernatorial candidate who didn't make it back in the late 80's.

$1000 a head.

As if.

[glasater]

I checked C-Cal's FB page and she hasn't checked in on that venue since last January!

So:

"Happy Birthday to you♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸
♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you...♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸
♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday, Dear CentralCal ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸
♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪Happy Birthday ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸
♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ To You!! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸
♥
"
Had already posted JamesD's message on his FB page :-)

[DebinNC]

Not very reassuring that the second in line behind Boehner is a CA Republican, Kevin McCarthy, who only arrived with the 2008 election. McCarthy's probably had little experience with fighting and winning, which makes him a perfect fit as House Majority Leader.

[GUS]

Deb, if you know anyone who needs a RODHAM PLEDGE FORM, CNN can fax it to them.

[narciso]

Happy birthday James and central.

We learn from the seldom bio of cameron, that he preferred Jeremy hunt as foreign secretary, even more of a blank mange then hammond, did the Libyan example teach no lesson. It certainly told bashir to double down.

[GUS]

Deb, which REPUBLICAN in the HOUSE has a track record of winning anything other than campaign donations??

[peter]

HB CC and James D.

Great pieces, Clarice. Shocking how ignorant the general public is and how easily rolled.

What do posters here make of attacks on Carly's conservative cred by Mark Levin and Rush? Cause for concern?

[Frau Uber über alles]

CC and JamesD ---

Buon compleanno!

btw Sophie Loren celebrates with you today.

[Frau Uber über alles]

Mamia mia! Sophia Loren fans will run me out of town.

[Beasts of England]

I'm curious to see what Mariota can do today in Cleveland. I suspect after last week's performance, they had to hire more staff in the Titan's ticket office.

[Marlene]

Happy Birthday CC and James!

[Threadkiller]

Also said the media's job is to hold candidates accountable.

Go for it media guys!

[Threadkiller]

Happy Birthday James!

Happy Birthday CCal!

[rich@gmu]

Happy Birthday JamesD and Central-Cal. Hope the day is great.

Another great "Pieces" Clarice.

[Frau Uber über alles]

Fiorina not conservative enough?

You go to war with the army you have. The question is: Can she take on Hillary! or Bernie or Slo Joe?

[Stephanie]

Happy Birthday James and CC!

Commiserating with you today, beasts. :(

Heading to the coast tomorrow for a short 3 day casino run. They sent me a flyer for an additional $275 in free play money and like Pavlov's dog I'm going to Bark!!!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

peter, they are just things to factor in when coming to a decision. She is certainly preferable to the two defeatist tomato cans in the last two general elections.

[GUS]

Poor BEARSSS poor BEARSSSS.

[Beasts of England]

Knock 'em dead, Steph!!

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Frau, I'm going with Sloe Joe in recognition of the substance abusing offspring that doofus has infested the nation with.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Wait a gosh darn second. Decided to google Miss North Carolina . . . and neither the Miss North Carolina titleholder Kate Peacock nor the Miss North Carolina USA title holder Julia Dalton is the woman who was wearing the Miss North Carolina sash at the airport yesterday.

I'm confuzzled. Oh well, I think the woman yesterday is way prettier than either of them anyway.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Johnny Football!

[Jane]

McCarthy's probably had little experience with fighting and winning, which makes him a perfect fit as House Majority Leader.

Heard somewhere, maybe on the cruise that McCarthy is the worst of all of them.

[rich@gmu]

peter-

Levin isn't a surprise but not sure it rates as a concern as I'm doubtful Fiorina will do well past Super Tuesday (iirc Herman Cain rocketed to Number 1 for a brief period).

I'm more worried that we will in fact nominate Trump

[Beasts of England]

She was actually wearing her sash at the airport? Holy carp is that hilarious!! Glad you didn't get me a date with an imposter beauty queen...

[rich@gmu]

might have some bad news for you Jeff. are you sure she wasn't Miss Teen NC?

[jimmyk]

Happy Birthday, CC and James D!

Trying to catch up after a busy morning. I think Iggy and others handled sbw's "velocity" question well. Velocity is just GDP divided by M2, and slowing suggests either a slowing economy or people moving their wealth into cash, or both. Not so good.

The conservative attacks on Carly really bother me. Some of them are just guilt-by-association, some are based on 10- or 15-year-old positions. Some fail to distinguish between free trade and open borders. In any case, let's hear her out now, not dig up "dirt" from long ago. Save the trashing for Hillary and the Dems.

[jimmyk]

Also had to catch up on Clarice's excellent Pieces. I must confess, though, that I would have to think about which side of this question I'd be on:

25 percent of respondents agreed that “it might be better to do away with the court altogether” if it started making a lot of rulings most Americans disagreed with.

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

Perry still led at this point in '12. Cain led didn't lead until October 20, he dropped after November 7. Concern regarding The Man From K.E.L.O. should be withheld until after actual votes are made in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

[jimmyk]

And, finally, from Iowahawk, who hasn't totally lost his touch despite his anti-Trump fixation, re Hillary's "I am a real person" response to "Describe yourself in three words":

David Burge ‏@iowahawkblog 2h

Turing Test fail

https://twitter.com/iowahawkblog/status/645618785739669505

[GUS]

I always wear my SASH to the airport.

[Old Lurker]

Hey Jimmy, we were looking for you near the end of the previous thread where we tried to confuse sbw about what a falling Velocity of Money might mean to him. Since you were not there, we pretended to know what we were talking about but that was just to trick sbw.

[Porchlight]

Happy birthday, centralcal and James D!

[DebinNC]

Russia and Syria don't listen to talking horses. (Whichever end is the front, Kerry has everyone fooled on that issue).

I was visiting my very elderly mom at Dazed and Confused Manor the other day, and the old tv show "Mr. Ed" was on. It was hysterically funny and so wholesome. Amazon sells all the seasons, but I immediately came home and ordered the "Best of" version to enjoy with my grand kiddos.

[Threadkiller]

Maybe it was Mrs. North Carolina?
She was recently at an airport.
https://m.facebook.com/Mrs.NorthCarolina2015ChristyHinnant/photos/pb.1512977112247460.-2207520000.1442769991./1689129897965513/?type=1&source=54&refid=17

[jimmyk]

OL, see my 1:20. I'm an expert at pretending I know what I'm talking about. In my industry it's called "consulting."

[Porchlight]

I'm so sorry to hear about Mary Katherine Hamm's husband. Her statement was very moving. He sounds like a wonderful guy and she is one strong lady.

[rich@gmu]

thanks Rick. I knew at some point Cain led the field but not the time frame. Perry for all he did in Texas, surprised he couldn't translate it to a national campaign.

whoa, Cleveland is up 14 early in the first quarter Captain Hate.

[Beasts of England]

Is your sash in ALL-CAPS, GUS?

[Buckeye]

Mr. North Carolina is a lucky guy....just saying.

[Marlene]

I agree Porch,I also read her statement. I didn't realize she is expecting. Heartbreaking.

[Buckeye]

https://instagram.com/p/72w1ySiwI3/

[clarice]

jimmy k,I'm with you on the attacks on Carly.

[GUS]

2015 MASTER OF TIME SPACE AND DIMENSION GUS.

It's a big sash.

[Miss Marple]

Levin and Rush keep assuming that someone like Cruz can win.

Looking at the electorate, I do not think so. And I cannot like him, no matter how conservative he is.

I am backing Carly until something happens to make me change my mind.

[Frau Märchenland]

Clarice,
"The Story of Clever Ahmed and His Amazing Suitcase Clock" made it to Germany yesterday, most likely because it re-enforces cultivated stereotypes about racist Texas and the xenophobic US. The headlines announced that Americans-the important ones--are now **crazy** about Ahmed. He's been fêted by the media, the preezy, Silicon Valley and even Harvard! If his father were not looking for a "better" school for Ahmed, he would certainly have been voted Irving's Homecoming King. He can even run for president if he plays his race cards right.

I tried to find the German article again yesterday evening, and it has disappeared. Even if the author discovered it was a hoax, the Germans will never find out. It was already yesterday's news, and the Germans can feel good that they would never ever mistake a suitcase clock for a bomb.

It's the basis for a modern Grimm's fairy tale, isn't it?

[Beasts of England]

Best laugh in two days, GUS!! :)

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

I always forget that Gingrich led from late November through early January.

[Buckeye]

The "conservative" attacks on Carly are occuring because she has been effectively pointing out the lack of balls in the GOPe for the last "25 years".

[James D.]

Thanks again for the birthday wishes!

[DebinNC]

I thought we weren't supposed to take into account a candidate's chances of winning, but were to support the one we think best no matter what? At least that's the response I got last week after stating I doubted Carly could win nationally.

[Porchlight]

DebinNC, thanks for reminding me about Mr. Ed. I love watching old shows with my kids. Their favorite is the Little Rascals. Leave It To Beaver is more amusing to me as an adult than it was as a kid. I never realized that the Cleavers were sort of the neighborhood liberals. Also now that I'm older I've discovered how extremely attractive Hugh Beaumont was. ;)

[anonamom]

HB James D. CeralCal too, wherever you are.

Oh good! I can watch Carly whup Chris Wallace on Fox News now.

[jimmyk]

Buckeye, some of the Carly attacks seem to be from the right, like the one from AT linked yesterday. They include such things as Carly saying something something positive about Islam back in 2001, not unlike what W also said. Or that she supports the H1-B visa program, as if that means she wants open borders. Or the usual carp about HP's stock price falling. I don't know what their real agenda is, hear what the candidates say now, and if it differs from what they said 15 years ago, ask them about it.

[DebinNC]

Ward Cleaver could have told Eddie Haskell to get out and don't come back, but he never did. Kind of like TM.

[anonamom]

Well, I am in tears watching the profile of Carly Fiorina that is the lead in to the interview with Wallace.
And I now understand her fearlessness. What is to fear, once you have chosen to continue to live after losing a child.

[Miss Marple]

I didn't say that, Deb. I believe Barbara siad that (and seemed to contradict that opinion in the same post.)

Part of my support is electability and how competent I feel they are. Part of it is if they share my views.

I support Carly. You don't think she is electable, but I do. I don't think Cruz is electable, but you do.

That's the way it goes.

[jimmyk]

Leave It To Beaver is more amusing to me as an adult than it was as a kid.

Yep, a lot of the "kids" shows from that era have that quality. Eddie Haskell is one of the great comic creations, and as has been mentioned here for years, must have been the inspiration for Obama.

[pagar]

Happy birthday James and centralcal.

[jimmyk]

Ward Cleaver could have told Eddie Haskell to get out and don't come back, but he never did. Kind of like TM.

Deb, that was the whole point--Eddie oozed with flattery to Ward and June ("What a lovely dress you are wearing, Mrs. Cleaver") so they never quite caught on to his evilness. More like the US voters and Obama than TM.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

I think it's premature to declare anybody unelectable after the campaign Reagan ran where he overcame all the naysayers. That's not to say that I don't understand people's opinions and may even agree with some of them; but there's a long time to go and a lot of primaries in which to weed people out.

[rich@gmu]

Rick-

It did take a while for Romney to eventually lead the field. Santorum led in February.

I'll back away from the ledge.

another Tennessee fumble ... but baled out with an expired play clock.

YIKES.