The
elimination of the last of the known chemical weapons in Syria feels
like such a small, hollow victory given the current level of calamity
both in that country and in the region.
It is a particularly brutal period for the president's foreign
policy. If he inherited a disastrous decision by President Bush in
Iraq, recent actions by ISIS remind us how little President Obama has
been able to accomplish there. And, as we prepare to put Afghanistan in
our rear view mirror, this week's Taliban offensive seems likely prelude
to what will transpire once we are gone.
In Syria, there is consideration of our providing funds to arm the
opposition to Assad even as he meets his promise regarding turnover of
chemical weapons. Even here, what has been accomplished remains murky at
best, as any statement of compliance must contain an asterisk regarding
potential unreported stashes of such materials.
Like many stories, this one was much larger at inception
than conclusion. While we stood on the precipice of yet another
invasion, our country shuddered at the thought of more years, more money
and more American lives in potential jeopardy. It is difficult to
remember those moments with clarity, or to comprehend that for the
briefest of periods, the United States and Russia joined together to
force President Assad to agree to surrender those weapons capable of
inflicting the worst of atrocities on his own citizens.
As we watched Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea, it is hard to
imagine any set of recent circumstances in which he could have been an
ally. We are reminded of that time with today's announcement. Yet,for
President Obama, what should be at least a note of triumph has been
drowned out by the unrelenting drumbeat of disaster that overwhelms our
senses and our headlines.
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