Friday, August 23, 2013

Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials -- August 23, 2013

Syrian activists inspect the bodies of people in Ghouda. Opposition groups are claiming that 213 people have been killed by chemical weapons in attacks by President Bashar al-Assad's forces near Damascus. Photograph: Reuters

President Obama Fails To Lead On Syria -- Tom Rogan, The Guardian

Obama's tepid statements signal that America isn't going to back up its words with action. It will only embolden Assad and others

President Obama just doesn't get it. When asked about Syria, Obama said today:

This is something that is going to require America's attention and hopefully the entire international community's attention.

To have meaning, to influence others, power requires more than words. When the world's only superpower says something, it has to mean it. Tyrants pay little heed to eloquent oratory, but they take notice in the face of resolve. Yet, in Syria, in "red lines" that have almost certainly been breached without answer, America's word has fallen into a moral and strategic abyss. America's friends are fearful, America's enemies are emboldened and the Middle East stands on the edge of a political disaster.

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Commentaries, Opinions, And Editorials

The anger of Syria's child refugees will be felt for years to come -- António Guterres and Anthony Lake, The Guardian

'Core' US interests now at stake in Syria, Obama says. Will he take action? -- Howard LaFranchi, Christian Science Monitor

Syria's lost youth: One million child refugees flee brutal civil war -- Gregory Beals, Special to CNN

Lebanon Car-Bombings Latest Sign of Middle East’s Deepening Hatreds -- Katie Harris, Time

What the U.S. should stand for in Egypt -- Anne Applebaum, Washington Post

The U.S. can afford to rethink aid to Egypt -- Michael O’Hanlon, Washington Post

Six pieces of good news from the Middle East this week (really!) -- Max Fisher, Washington Post

Guns, Tanks and Wounded Men—This Battle Is Raging NOW -- David Axe, War Is Boring

The News From Fukushima Just Gets Worse, and the Japanese Public Wants Answers -- Jason Motlagh, Time

Should U.S. be talking with the Taliban? -- Howard Cohen, CNN

It’s All About Mao -- Zheng Wang, New York Times

China’s Incredible Shrinking Economy -- Gordon G. Chnag, World Affairs

How China's Slowdown Will Impact Latin America -- Jaime Daremblum, Real Clear World

Furious Buddhists Are Making Life Hell for Sri Lanka's Muslims -- Joseph Cox, Vice

Spain's New "Fornicators" -- Soeren Kern, Real Clear World

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