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RichLP -> RE: Bush pays price for 'Mission Accomplished' sign (10/28/2008 12:42:09 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mapachito13
GWB seems to be trying to make this war wider by ignoring international borders and attacking Al Qaeda in Syria. This not only rightfully ticks off the Syrians, who were starting to make political overtures towards us, but their friends in Russia as well.
Don't tread on me but we'll tread on whoever we darn well please!
The ends DO NOT justify the means!
George Herbert Walker Bush had not forgotten the failed attempt by Syria to destroy an Israeli airliner at Heathrow 22 years ago. But Bush 41 was savvy and informed enough to know that he needed Syrian cooperation in the Persian Gulf War. Then Secretary of State James Baker even spoke of Syria positively, calling that country "a major Arab country who happens to share the same goals we do."
Baker met Hafez Al-Assad in 1990 and not much after, Assad met President Bush 41 himself. Bush wanted Syrian help in the campaign against Saddam Hussein. Bush 41 also promised to hold an Arab-Israeli peace conference after the liberation of Kuwait.
Once Desert Storm was underway, Bush 41 successfully kept Israel out of the conflict, a considerable achievement (and a demonstration of staggering self-control by the Israelis) as Hussein launched Scuds on Tel Aviv. This was done so Syria would not be angered.
Bush rewarded Syria for its cooperation with a free hand in Lebanon. And later in 1991, the Madrid Conference was held.
Years later, Bush 41 spoke well of Syria, calling it a "key to the achievement of enduring and comprehensive peace" in that region. Syrian leaders were pleased and slowly, overtures towards us began. This occurred at the same time President Bill Clinton twice met Assad.
Now Bush 43 attacks Syria ostensibly to hunt down Al-Qaeda, but the dead were civilians. US troops walked out of choppers which landed on Syrian soil and attacked. Some may claim the US maneuver successfully struck terrorists, but why the silence? The Bush administration nears its end with very little popular support, a colossal quagmire, and overtures to North Korea which some in the GOP itself call appeasement and capitulation. Bush can use a foreign policy success and to claim victory over Al-Qaeda would be a way to do so. But the US was silent at first, whereas Syria immediately told the world of this event and vehemently condemned it. There was nothing for Bush to brag about because in all probability no Al-Qaeda operatives were killed.
This was an unmistakable act of aggression and a violation of another country's sovereignty. This after Syria did a huge favor to Iraqis by accepting over a million Iraqi refugees, at a high cost to itself; after Syria tightened control on its side of the border w/ Iraq.
My cynical side tells me this was also crafted to give a boost to the John McCain/Sarah Palin ticket, and also to make life harder for an Obama presidential administration. The Syrians may be slightly soothed if Obama takes the White House, but they'll still be angry at America even after Bush 43 is gone.
Once again, the son has underperformed the father - and miserably so.
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