Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Death knell sounds for Obama doctrine as Aleppo falls to Assad loyalists
The Washington Times ^ | December 25th, 2016 | By Carlo Muñoz

Posted on 12/25/2016 10:03:46 PM PST by Mariner

The fall of the rebel-held Syrian city of Aleppo to Russian- and Iranian-backed forces loyal to President Bashar Assad sounds the death knell for the outgoing Obama administration’s hands-off counterterrorism doctrine, analysts say.

The final batches of anti-Assad fighters vacated formerly rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo on Friday, officially bringing the city — which was Syria’s economic and cultural hub before the war — under the regime’s control.

The fall of Aleppo was the biggest victory for government forces and their Russian and Iranian supporters since moderate rebel groups, emboldened by regional uprisings tied to the 2011 Arab Spring, attempted to overthrow the Assad regime and ignited the war six years ago.

But the fall was also a pivotal moment for the Obama administration, whose initial intractable stance against the Assad regime was translated into an indecisive policy aimed at defeating or sidelining America’s adversaries from a distance.

“There is no doubt [President Obama] will be hammered in historical terms. The question will be why he didn’t do more,” Aaron David Miller, a former presidential adviser on Middle East affairs, told Reuters.

Mr. Obama’s infamous “red line” warning in 2012 against Syria’s use of chemical weapons against rebel forces pushed Washington and Damascus onto a collision course, with U.S. warships anchored off of the Syrian coast ready to launch missiles on government targets.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Syria; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: isis; syria
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: BobL

You’re one of these types that prefers to deny reality. We have been giving money, supplies, weapons and training to the Syrian rebels for a long time.


61 posted on 12/26/2016 9:14:17 AM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (Potheads vote Dem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Popman
So you are saying that Israel would rather have a hostile enemy like ISIL

Yes of course. ISIL and a thousand other tribal gangs killing each other is no threat to Israel. And besides, if they do become a threat, America can come wipe them out for the sake of Israel. Nobody would complain about that either.

62 posted on 12/26/2016 9:21:12 AM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (Potheads vote Dem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Ethan Clive Osgoode; ganeemead; Alberta's Child
Israel frequently bombs Assad's positions.

And that's because Israel wants Assad's war machine greatly reduced in power. But you're making the mistake in thinking that just because that's what they want, they also want him overthrown. Israel knows that "moderate rebels" replacing Assad in such a case is a pipe dream. As I said, in the power vacuum created in the event of the regime's collapse would quickly be filled by Islamic state loons, which certainly wouldn't be in Israel's interest. ...or in anyone else's except radical Sunnis. Caliphate types controlling Syria's chemical weapons stockpile isn't a sane option.

Therefore, they seek to keep Assad in power while at the same time seriously degrade his military. At this point (years into the fighting), it's close to mission accomplished -- ISIS and Co. isn't going to overthrow Assad, but the Syrian military is a shadow of what it was when the war started.

Ex-IDF chief Dan Halutz publicly expressed the truth 3 years ago.

I'm sure he was told never to do it again.

63 posted on 12/26/2016 9:22:35 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

What’s up with the article’s Fake News lie that Obama was “hands off”??

Obama has U.S. SpecOps on the ground fighting in Syria against Assad.


64 posted on 12/26/2016 9:25:05 AM PST by Southack (The one thing preppers need from the 1st World? http://tinyurl.com/ktfwljc .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bluebird Singing

I am not familiar with George Webb, wondering if you know his background (inquiring minds~my spouse~want to know).


65 posted on 12/26/2016 9:45:27 AM PST by Freedom56v2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: bushwon

I am trying to find a link I had seen that told about his background. His full name is George Webb Sweigert and he lives in Portland, Oregon.

Over on voat.co there is a pizzagate thread going on, and a few posts about George Webb. Here is another person who is investigating the Clinton Foundation/Hillary corruption and finding the same inner circle:
https://voat.co/v/pizzagate/1510482


66 posted on 12/26/2016 10:35:40 AM PST by Bluebird Singing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
And besides, if they do become a threat, America can come wipe them out for the sake of Israel. Nobody would complain about that either.

That's either Neocon delusion or being quite naive.

So you are one of the people who think Israel is in control of the US Government and will do their bidding even against our own interests like spending more blood and treasure cleaning up more ME messes ?

I think Israel is quite capable of handling their own borders and tribal gangs running amuck threatening them.

67 posted on 12/26/2016 11:04:40 AM PST by Popman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Popman
one of the people who think Israel is in control of the US Government and will do their bidding even against our own interests

Most of those who irrationally (to be kind about it) believe that .2% of the world's population (Jews) control both the U.S. and much of the rest of the world have been weeded out of FR over the decades, but a few still remain.

68 posted on 12/26/2016 11:33:38 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: BobL

“And, to this day, NO ONE has been able to explain the need for being involved there.”

When I look at the muzzie invasion of Europe, and contemplate the rivers of blood that will have to flow, I wonder if that wasn’t Obunghole’s and Rotten Cankles’ mission in the Middle East: to create just that situation.


69 posted on 12/26/2016 11:37:10 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Ethan Clive Osgoode

“You’re one of these types that prefers to deny reality. We have been giving money, supplies, weapons and training to the Syrian rebels for a long time.”

What the hell does us taking the wrong side of a war have to do with Israel. In case you Neocons haven’t noticed, Israel is SICK TO DEATH of your type, and in 25 days, the decades-long nightmare will be over.


70 posted on 12/26/2016 11:41:02 AM PST by BobL (In Honor of the NeverTrumpers, I declare myself as FR's first 'Imitation NeverTrumper')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Popman

“Sort of like kicking your asshole, but peaceful neighbor out of your neighborhood and bringing a lawless motorcycle gang to live there instead...”

Spot on. There are some anti-Semitic trolls here, says the Catholic.


71 posted on 12/26/2016 11:47:16 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: BobL

It’s mostly Muslims killing muslims?


72 posted on 12/26/2016 12:09:49 PM PST by Leep (Stronger without her!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: Leep

“It’s mostly Muslims killing muslims?”

True, but plenty of Christians on the receiving end too.


73 posted on 12/26/2016 1:42:16 PM PST by BobL (In Honor of the NeverTrumpers, I declare myself as FR's first 'Imitation NeverTrumper')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: BobL
Like it or not, the governments of Israel and Syria are on the same page here.

One nation bombs another regularly and "they are on the same page". We have others saying Israel is fighting ISIS in Syria. Why not just come out and say Israel and Syria are allies. You might as go well go all the way with these fantasies.

74 posted on 12/26/2016 6:08:52 PM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (Potheads vote Dem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Popman
That's either Neocon delusion or being quite naive.

Russian intervention has tilted the scales, and Jerusalem is concerned of a regime victory, which would be victory for Iran as well. To prevent that, Israeli officials believe West must intervene in favor of moderate rebels.

In fact, the war in Syria has largely served Israel’s interests. The ongoing fighting has worn down the Syrian army to a shadow of its former capabilities. Almost all of President Bashar Assad’s huge store of chemical weapons has been dismantled following an American-Russian arrangement forced on the Syrian dictator in the summer of 2013.

And Hezbollah, Israel’s main adversary in the north, has invested a quarter to a third of its manpower in fighting for the Syrian regime, and is losing dozens of fighters every month in battle. Official spokespeople do not say this publicly – there are things one cannot say when 470,000 people (according to recent accepted figures) are being massacred across the border – but Israel has been quietly wishing success to both sides and would not have been against the bloodletting continuing for a few more years without a clear victor.

Haaretz


75 posted on 12/26/2016 6:14:28 PM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (Potheads vote Dem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Mojo
Israel wants Assad's war machine greatly reduced in power.

I see. So, it's so much not that they dislike Assad, it's just that they want to see Syria reduced to ashes.

it's close to mission accomplished

Yes, 500,000 dead and a totally ruined nation.

76 posted on 12/26/2016 6:32:16 PM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (Potheads vote Dem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Ethan Clive Osgoode
So, it's so much not that they dislike Assad, it's just that they want to see Syria reduced to ashes.

Wrong on both counts. ...again.

1) They DO despise Assad. It's just that they'd prefer an Arab strongman like him to jihadi crazies like ISIS / AQ. And those are the only two options for people living in the real world.

2) I clearly said that Israel wants Assad's war machine degraded, not the country itself turned to ashes and hundreds of thousands of its people killed.

Israel didn't start this war, nor did they want it. In fact they warned the Obama admin. countless times that their "Arab Spring" meddling would turn into a regional disaster. And they were right. ...again.

But given the FACT of a war they didn't want to see, they certainly didn't want those who aim to bring about an Islamic caliphate to win. And who would? ...other than jihadis nutcases and their enablers.

77 posted on 12/26/2016 6:56:00 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Ethan Clive Osgoode

Nice deflection....

Your post has nothing to do with what I responded to in this post of yours..

——Yes of course. ISIL and a thousand other tribal gangs killing each other is no threat to Israel. And besides, if they do become a threat, America can come wipe them out for the sake of Israel. Nobody would complain about that either. ——

America can come and wipe them out is the delusional part I was referring to...


78 posted on 12/26/2016 7:00:00 PM PST by Popman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Mojo
2) I clearly said that Israel wants Assad's war machine degraded, not the country itself turned to ashes and hundreds of thousands of its people killed.

Yep. 500,000 dead is an implementation detail. Mission accomplished!

79 posted on 12/26/2016 7:17:14 PM PST by Ethan Clive Osgoode (Potheads vote Dem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Ethan Clive Osgoode

Looks like you’d fall into the “caliphate enablers” category.

You and your comrade Obama.


80 posted on 12/26/2016 7:31:36 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson