At this moment, Syrian and Russian forces, together with Iranian and Hezbollah militia fighters, are preparing to finish their siege of Aleppo. The 275,000 people who reportedly remain in the city are being told to flee. Thousands will do so, choosing to become refugees. The poor souls who remain in Aleppo will suffer a surge in relentless, indiscriminate bombing. And when Mr. Assad, Mr. Putin and their allies have slaughtered all that stand in their way, they will proclaim peace in the bloody sands of the Syrian desert.
Comment: What about the tens of millions killed, wounded, or forced to flee their homes because of the US bombing campaigns against Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, and Somalia? Washington has far more blood on its hands than either the Russian or Syrian governments, so McCain's crocodile tears over 'the blood of the innocent' in Syria are hypocritical and despicable. The difference is Russia and Syria are actually targeting terrorists whereas the US pursues the total destruction of Muslim societies. Here is the crux of the issue: McCain isn't flying into a rage over civilian deaths. He's howling at the loss of his terrorist demon spawn and thwarted domination .
The collapse of the most recent cessation of hostilities is not surprising. It failed, as did the Obama administration's previous efforts to work with Russia in Syria, because as former Secretary of State George Shultz once said, "diplomacy not backed by strength will always be ineffectual at best, dangerous at worst."
Comment: Responsibility for the collapse of the ceasefire agreement lies entirely with the US and its
America's intrepid secretary of state has now taken the meaningless step of suspending talks with Russia over Syria. Meanwhile, Mr. Assad and Mr. Putin are creating military facts on the ground in Syria that will enable them to dictate the terms of a peace secured by carnage. They have decimated coalition-backed Syrian groups, slaughtered countless civilians, consolidated the Syrian regime's hold on power, and even struck a United Nations humanitarian-aid convoy. And they have done all of this with no consequences. Thus the war grinds on.
Comment: Decimating coalition-backed forces (many of whom aren't Syrian) and consolidating the sovereign and democratically elected government's hold on power aren't actually bad things. Especially when taking into consideration just what kind of monsters these forces are. As for the S-300 and S-400 missile systems McCain is alluding to as 'facts on the ground', McCain is just upset that the Russians have outwitted the US and found a way to prevent a no-fly zone (for everyone but the US) over the country. Without a no-fly zone any plans of domination the US has in Syria are going to continue falling apart, which is why McCain is crying his crocodile tears. Russia has won in Syria, get over it. Also, there's no evidence that the Russians bombed the humanitarian-aid convoy, and they would have nothing to gain from such an attack. However, the US did have something to gain, and Putin knows it.
While the U.S.-led coalition is making progress in the fight against Islamic State, we cannot forget this terrorist organization is a symptom of the Syrian civil war. The future of that conflict will have significant strategic impact on U.S. national security.
The war in Syria has claimed more than 400,000 lives, displaced half the country's population, and inflamed sectarian tensions across the Middle East. But as bad as this conflict is now, it can get much worse—and likely will. It will produce millions more refugees, undermining regional stability and straining the social fabric of Western nations. It will strengthen an anti-American alliance of Russia and Iran. U.S. credibility with our closest security partners in the Middle East will further erode. And it will provide ISIS, or its successor groups, fertile ground to radicalize Muslims, recruit and inspire them to fight, and provide them with dangerous battlefield experience.
Comment: Which is doublespeak for things are going to get better in Syria and the terrorist threat will slowly vanish from the country if the US doesn't get a no-fly zone.
This is where the conflict in Syria is headed, and the administration still has no strategy to do anything about it. Its diplomacy is toothless. And there appears to be no Plan B.
Comment: There was a Plan B, and even a Plan C, and thankfully neither are working due to 'Russian interference'.
An alternative plan would not come without costs and uncertainties. The administration likes to pretend that Congress is not prepared to support a more forceful approach because of its lack of support for military action to enforce President Obama's red line in 2013. This is a myth. What many in Congress opposed was granting a reluctant president authority to conduct what Secretary of State John Kerry promised would be "unbelievably small" airstrikes in the absence of a broader strategy to achieve U.S. national interests in Syria. The U.S. needs that broader strategy now.
Any alternative approach must begin with grounding Mr. Assad's air power. It is a strategic advantage that enables the Assad regime to perpetuate the conflict through the wanton slaughter of innocent Syrians. The U.S. and its coalition partners must issue an ultimatum to Mr. Assad—stop flying or lose your aircraft—and be prepared to follow through. If Russia continues its indiscriminate bombing, we should make clear that we will take steps to hold its aircraft at greater risk. And we must create safe zones for Syrian civilians and do what is necessary to protect them against violations by Mr. Assad, Mr. Putin and extremist forces.
Comment: Translation: The US needs a no-fly zone or else everything it's worked for in Syria is going to slip through its fingers. Sure, it may cost a few million more lives and further destabilize the region, but you can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
At the same time, we must provide more robust military assistance to the vetted Syrian opposition groups that are fighting the regime.
The only way to isolate and target extremists on the battlefield is to make moderate groups more capable of fighting successfully on their own.
The Obama administration's approach to Syria has failed miserably. Now is the time for a new strategy— including the necessary military component— that can achieve this more realistic objective. This will undoubtedly entail greater costs. But the alternative is far from cost-free : It is the continuation, for years and years, of terror, tragedy, slaughter, refugees, and a war in the heart of the Middle East that will continue to threaten the U.S. and destabilize the world.
Cry your crocodile tears John McCain. Oh and close your yap! There is already enough excrement around to fertilize the World's next growing season. I am beginning to dislike the sound of your name and anything that is attached to it. What a buffoon, the local idiot!