Many people have complained about a new policy of “American Exceptionalism” in our wars and foreign policy. It appears however that we may have to call it a policy of “American Incoherence” after reading the latest remarks of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — policies that are understandable only to our leaders. Clinton (who supported the armed intervention in Libya because of the threat of citizen deaths) has announced that no troops can be sent to Syria without the consent of the regime. I happen to oppose military intervention in Syria, but we continue to convey to the world that the only guiding principle in our foreign policy is opportunism.
In the lawsuit by the members of Congress challenging the Libyan war (where I served as lead counsel), the Administration insisted that it did not need any consent of either Congress or the Libyan government to start bombing military and infrastructure sites.
Of course, these are “peacekeeping forces,” but the contrast to Syria is striking. In the lawsuit, Syria had already killed more civilians than Libya, but the Administration claimed that it had unilateral authority to enter Libya. Clinton insists that she is trying to “convince the Assad regime that they are leading Syria into the outcome that we all deplore. We do not want to see a civil war in Syria.” Presumably that does not include drone attacks where the consent is neither required nor often expected.
In the meantime, Libyan forces are now being accused of many of the same atrocities committed by the prior regime.
What is even more worrisome is the steady number of leaks and comments about an expected war with Iran — a war that we could easily be pulled into with a preemptive strike by Israel. That would move Syria further back in the line for U.S. intervention.
Source: Foreign Policy
It has come to the realization of the USA military as politicians
that the cost as loss of life / removing such dire dictatorships
as that of SYRIA / is not an invasion but to arm those whom in
be willing to fight for their freedom / willing to die for freedom..
that such the tyrant that rules SYRIA as his supporters being
brought unto justice for decades of injustice having committed.
For the future of the people of the USA lets hope that BARACK
has the sense to step down / allow HILLARY or another taking
the leadership of the democrats / in its next term of govt / that
their being another term of BARACK as president / is but such
one writing the longest suicide note. BARACK has the ambition
he can spin out a yarn / yet lacks the political skill for the office
of president he has more the makings of a used car salesman.
There those whom putting forward that a vote against BARACK
is to vote against black people / that in voting against BARACK
one is a racist // such of course is utter nonsense // the future
election has nothing to do with black against white / rather it’s
whom best in leading the democrats / in another term of office
the reality with BARACK not being black or white / the reality is
he is an failing politician / having little political ability in leading
the nation // its time for an change in the democrat leadership.
Blouise/nal,
Actually AY raises a salient point about real pipelines as well. Both major gas and oil pipelines do go through Syria.
Nal,
Not referring to oil … referring to Washington D C … once a plan is in the pipeline, it flows out the other end. Plans for Iran are in the pipeline … Syria’s just an outside strut to brace the pipeline
if a couple of saudis bomb somewhere that would be justification to bomb/invade syria.
http://www.alternet.org/story/154018/elect_romney,_get_war_in_iran_/ Romney has some ultra hawks working for him.
nal,
Syria is strategically located…..In between Asia and the middle east….they have plenty of pipelines….=
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/business/oil-price-would-skyrocket-if-iran-closed-the-strait.html Netanyahu favors republicans so he would not mind if oil went sky high and Obama lost.
The banks and the MIC own this nation. They own Hillary and Barack, they own our Congress and our state legislatures, our governors and our diplomats.
Time to get corporate money out of politics altogether.
rafflaw, I don’t think Obama wants the price of gasoline to double to 8 bucks a gallon. That would mean a recession and a sure loss in November.
Syria ain’t got no oil.
It’s in the pipeline …
Swarthmore,
The answer is he can avoid a war, but I am not sure that hewill.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/02/201221254919523390.html Can Obama avert a war with Iran?
So we’re saying we can’t send troops because that would be a declaration of war, can we send drones? It was argued we weren’t at war in Libya if I remember correctly because of our support function, the lack of a large number of troops on the ground, and the fact that a number of strikes were carried out with drones.
Now that a drone seems to have been taken in Iran, perhaps they are upgrading their self destruction and signal penetration capabilities? Could our sudden tepidness have to do with a lack of unilateral support this time? The past relationship of Russia and Syria? Or perhaps the difference between Libya and Syria is election year politics.
Whoops. Did I say you had to ask us to bomb you? Of course, I misspoke!
Sigh. And the drums keep beating while the wheels grind.
Piece keeping forces: those who go in and get the big pieces, the big chunks …
And don’t bother to ask if you don’t have sufficient oil in the ground …
Since when have we needed assent to perfect American Imperialism…..
It is quite clear, quite coherent: “If sovereign nations want our troops to come into their territory and destroy them along with their infrastructure, they are going to have to ask us first.”