We need to abandon "regime change" in Syria

On "Chuck" Todd's morning newsie today he interviewed  Zbig and Andrea Mitchell about US policy in Syria.  Todd and Mitchell are widely seen as virtual mouthpieces of AIPAC and Bibi's government.  They seemed to want to use this segment as a springboard for yet more logrolling for aggressive US action against the Syrian government.

After wringing their hands over Russian "obstructionism" in the UN to their desires, they got down to business in trying to devise some way in which Russia could be forced economically or politically to abandon the Syrian government.  This babble did not reflect the simple truth that the rebels are losing on the ground and that there was never any chance that Russia would abandon Syria.

The United States has NO levers of influence or power that it can successfully employ against Russia, China or Iran.  Russia is still a major power.  It is heavily armed with nuclear weapons and has a lot of petroleum with which to fund its policy.  China is a major rival of the United States and possessed of the second largest economy in the world.  Iran has been bled white economically by sanctions but does not yield.

All that being the case, what on earth has the Obama Administration thought it would accomplish by demanding Syrian surrender to the rebels?  That was the basis of he Geneva talks.  What were we thinking?  Did we imagine that this would be a school board  or PTA meeting?  What were we thinking? 

Zbig was finally allowed to say a few words.  He stressed the need to settle the issues between Russia and the US on some viable basis and started to suggest what sounded like an appeal to modify the "regime change" theme so pervasive among the R2P/neocon crowd (including Obama).  Todd then cut him off.

US policy should change.  US policy should become a process of reconciling the existing government with what is left of the Syrian National Council and the Free Syria Army.  This should include amnesty for "ralliers' to the government, a cease fire against the nationalist secularist rebels, and a complete opening up of the country to international relief efforts wherever the jihadis do not rule and control. Once that is accomplished the re-united Syrian patriot forces should collaborate in exterministing the jihadis.  The jihadis came to Syria to die for their faith.  They should be assisted in that ambition.

Saudi Arabia?  Israel?  Ignore them.  pl

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/02/syria-us-should-engage-iran-russia.html?utm_source=Al-Monitor+Newsletter+[English]&utm_campaign=da690c1454-New_US_Syria_policy_should_engage_Iran2_16_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_28264b27a0-da690c1454-93066749

Comments

[Babak Makkinejad]

If the old histories are to be believed; there were 4000 Hafiz-al Quran (Keepers of the Quran) among the soldiers of Al Ma'awiyah fighting Imam Ali.

I suppose history is repeating itself again...

[Charles I]

Thanks for the SN reference, never heard of it.

[fanto]

CP, your thoughts are very similiar if not identic with the ones by Bacevich in his 'Washington rules' - he calls the american unwillingness to engage with the rest of the world - the 'american provincionalism'. I also see similarities in your comment with the writings of Peter Scholl Latour, who's writings I am sure you know better than me. I am thankful for this post and the great comments. Keep it up - maybe the rulers or their advisors will learn and follow the good sense coming from Colonels blog. For my part, I am spreading the word..

[Mark Kolmar]

Fred, Col. Lang, FB Ali, others --

If the goal is to remove the threat of individual jihadis and Islamist totalitarianism generally, I simply mean that killing when it's necessary still seems like the last option, and a failure in itself. I agree with the way FB Ali distinguishes between the hardcore, and others who are mixed up in a group or cause. These bad actors would be eliminated as a threat when captured. Others could have the potential to redeem themselves in some way or deprogram, and a few might even be turned into useful assets.

[turcopolier]

Mark Kolmar

All the jihadis in Syria are hard core. pl

[William R. Cumming]

Secrecy News is highly regarded on both a bipartisan and non-partisan basis.

Disclosure: Steve and FAS maintain a website for me
concerning Emergency Management and its historical development in the USA in the form of original documents. For a definition of EM see my permanent website at www.vacationlanegrp.com

The FAS/FEMA link is:

http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/dhs/fema/index.html

My interest in EM has consumed a lifetime of effort as I believe how the world's oldest and richest democracy still existing conveys important messages to the rest of the world. BTW England experiencing several flooding now!

[Fred]

Mark,

Are you volunteering to do the 'deprogramming' or to guard those you want to do the capturing, sorting and guarding for said deprogramming? I for one don't think that is worth a single American life.

[William R. Cumming]

CP!

Eisenhower and JFK started the ball rolling!

Iran and Viet Nam!