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Syrian President Bashar Assad has fired missiles with chemical weapons at his opponents, crossing US President Barack Obama's red line a "long time ago," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as telling NBC News on Thursday.
Column: On Syria, it's time for Obama to decide
But the status quo in Syria is breaking down, and Obama's worst option is to kick the can as the United States inexorably gets dragged deeper into the conflict. It may be politically painful, but it's time to make a choice: Go all in with a no fly zone — or avoid anything more than diplomatic intervention and humanitarian/non-lethal aid. Here's why.
Until recently, Obama's strategy of hesitance and risk aversion was commendable and well executed
As the situation worsened, the United States took minimal, reactionary steps. First, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to put together a formal — and reasonably liberal — Syrian political opposition, but it quickly fragmented because it had no workable ties to the actual rebels doing the actual fighting. Then the United States turned to non-lethal aid for the rebels (including defensive military equipment) as well as supporting Qatar and other countries through intelligence and logistics. Furthermore, in August 2012, Obama drew a "red line" at "chemical weapons moving around or being utilized" by the regime. At the time, it seemed unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon.
A lot has changed in the past few weeks, which have been the most turbulent since the crisis began two years ago
Until recently, Obama's strategy of hesitance and risk aversion was commendable and well executed
As the situation worsened, the United States took minimal, reactionary steps. First, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to put together a formal — and reasonably liberal — Syrian political opposition, but it quickly fragmented because it had no workable ties to the actual rebels doing the actual fighting. Then the United States turned to non-lethal aid for the rebels (including defensive military equipment) as well as supporting Qatar and other countries through intelligence and logistics. Furthermore, in August 2012, Obama drew a "red line" at "chemical weapons moving around or being utilized" by the regime. At the time, it seemed unlikely to come to fruition anytime soon.
A lot has changed in the past few weeks, which have been the most turbulent since the crisis began two years ago
For the United States, the Syrian crisis has come to an inflection point. This was not the case just six months ago, but it is apparent now. America has a hard choice to make: Say no to arming the rebels or yes to deeper military engagement. Unfortunately, inaction is the simplest path forward — and the worst one of all.
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