OBAMA AND HIS RED LINE

All Obama’s ‘red line’ is … an empty bluff.

Kerry ‘fesses up about Obama’s ‘red line’

Taken from a December 5th article by Post Editorial Board

 A painful truth, Secretary of State John Kerry admitted,  President Obama’s “red line” fiasco in Syria “cost us significantly”--leading other nations to see his weak America.

“We have been very clear to the Assad regime … that a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized,” he said, also calling “chem” use a “game-changer.”

It was universally seen as a threat of massive consequences for Bashar al-Assad if he crossed the line. 

Assad did launch chemical attacks a year later, and Obama stalled.

He tried to get allies on board with a campaign of airstrikes. 

Britain declined, but France said yes — yet Obama then asked Congress to OK the bombing. Congress signaled reluctance to “buy in” — and then Obama accepted a diplomatic lifeline from Moscow to negotiate a deal for Syria to (supposedly) turn over all its chem munitions.

US allies and enemies were on notice that America might not live up to its word.

Russia took control of Crimea within the year--intervened to save Assad. Iran virtually dictated the terms of its nuclear deal with Team Obama.

Kerry argued that it was a “misperception” that Washington had been weak, after all Assad did give up (many of) his chems. But then admitted: “it doesn’t matter.  Perception can often just be the reality.”

Actually, the evidence of Obama's actions, or lack of action, gave credence that his was only empty words--a meaningless threat. In the year following his drawing the red line, Obama,never laid any groundwork with Congress (or with America’s allies) for enforcing it. Although, he did scapegoat Congress for their hesitation in not immediately OK’ing the use of force when he did ask. 

Obviously, if you're president, making threats, especially in such a high stakes game, then you had better "carry a big stick", or, at the least, show some preparation, signaling your intent of making good on it. Otherwise, all you’ve really made is … an empty bluff, showing a grievous disregard of America's prestige.