Crunch Time for President Obama

Thursday, senior members of the Obama administration held their preliminary strategy rehearsal about the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian al-Assad regime - in public. Soon after the White House released a letter sent to Senator John McCain and other members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, the US Secretaries of Defense and State gave public statements which were clearly not coordinated. The effect in Europe and the Middle East was to make their own public statements asking what Obama was planning to do. Obama's own cautious response to Syria's likely use of sarin or other chemical weapons reflects a lack of agreement in Washington, and perhaps in his own administration, over whether to take aggressive military action. Lawmakers in both parties fear that inaction may embolden not only Syrian President al-Assad but other US foes as well. The administration made clear today that even a quick strike isn't imminent because they are trying to corroborate their information. Obama has insisted that the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons would be a "red line" in the sand, but now he is saying that he needs more evidence to bolster intelligence assessments. Secretary of State John Kerry held a closed-door briefing on Capitol Hill today with House Republicans and Democrats and afterward expressed uncertainty about the appropriate next step as the Obama administration considers limited military options. Lawmakers are opposed to a "boots on the ground" US military invasion, fearing that the American public is war-weary after more than 10 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hal Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said, "I think probably we should be asking the UN to be involved. I think perhaps that's in the making." Representative Dutch Ruppersberger, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, joined other lawmakers in calling for a cautious approach to Syria at the same time that they acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. US credibility and international authority are on the line in Syria. If al-Assad manages to delay or avoid US and UN action, the message sent to rogue states such as North Korea and Iran could lead to a global escalation of dangerous and unpredictable proportions. Because the United States has taken the position that chemical weapon use crosses a line, then failure to respond has implications, according to Representative David Cicilline, a Democrat who is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. GOP Representatove John Mica said, "I think the president was saying the use of chemical weapons is a game changer. I think most people agree with that. So that if we in fact determine that chemical weapons were used, I think the expectation is that we and the coalition and others take some action." Mixa suggested that the red line is "turning into a pink line." Meanwhile, in Syria, officials rejected the US intelligence assessment and denied that it had used chemical weapons. Asked about Syria's answer, State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said, "If the regime has nothing to hide they should let the UN investigators in immediately so we can get to the bottom of this." And, there is also another cold reality facing President Obama and the international community - a military group fighting alongside the Syrian Free Army has pledged allegiance to al-Qaida, making the deployment of weapons as dangerous as it would be if these groups got hold of al-Assad's chemical weapon stockpiles. This confirms what Senator John McCain said more than a year ago - the longer America and the world waits to help the rebels, the more they will be infiltrated by terrorist groups loyal to al-Qaida and Iran. But the idea of creating a free zone at the Turkish border or a no-fly zone poses a significant challenge, as Syria has an air defense system far more robust than the one brought down by the US and its allies in Libya two years ago. GOP South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham also expressed his concerns about the infiltration of Syrian rebel forces by al-Qaida affiliates. In an interview, Graham said, "Right weapons in right hands is the goal. The second war is coming. I think we can arm the right people with the right weapons. There's a risk there, but the risk of letting this go and chemical weapons falling into radical Islamists' hands is the greatest risk." Thus far, the United States has provided only non-lethal aid, including military-style equipment such as body armor and night vision goggles and also heavily participated in NATO's placement of Patriot missile batteries in Turkey near the border to protect against an attack from Syria. ~~~~~ Dear readers, this is not the time for President Obama to engage in his usual lead-from-behind style of presidency. He and the US must take a decisive leadership role in the current Syrian crisis. Otherwise, the Middle East could easily spin down into chaos. And if that happens, it will be America and its somewhat neutralizd allies, Israel and the Gulf states, who will lose. Lose face. Lose ground. Lose what's left of their credibility.