How President Obama Stalled Debate On Developing A Syria Policy

President Obama speaks on the phone from the Oval Office, September 10, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

Special Report: How Syria Policy Stalled Under The 'Analyst In Chief' -- David Rohde and Warren Strobel, Reuters

(Reuters) - Throughout 2012, as signs mounted that militants in Syria were growing stronger, the debate in the White House followed a pattern. In meeting after meeting, as officials from agencies outside the executive residence advocated arming pro-Western rebels or other forms of action, President Barack Obama’s closest White House aides bluntly delivered the president’s verdict: no.

“It became clear from the people very close to the president that he had deep, deep reservations about intervening in Syria,” said Julianne Smith, who served as deputy national security advisor to Vice President Joe Biden. “And the likelihood of altering those views was low, very low.”

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My Comment: Last year I was sympathetic to President Obama's decision (and lack of desire) to get American embroiled in another Middle Eastern war. There was no political or public support for another war .... and President Obama respected and agreed with that opinion. But quoting Trotsky ..... "you may not want war, but war wants you". Even I recognized (the end of last year) that the conditions on the ground had changed .... and radical Jihadists were gaining control and power at a rapid pace. Unfortunately .... the White House was slow and reluctant to get involved .... and we now have the situation that we have today.

This article and analysis is a devastating indictment from Reuters of President Obama's insular decision-making process on national security. It is in every-way a must read.