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U.S. Options in Syria Worsen

(Commentary) Michael Rubin - There's an unfortunate tendency among foreign policy decision-makers in Washington to believe that all options remain on the table indefinitely. Two years ago, it made sense to support the Syrian opposition. President Bashar al-Assad was a brute who supported Hizbullah, transformed Syria into an underground railroad for al-Qaeda terrorists infiltrating Iraq, and sought to build a covert nuclear program. The U.S. is never the only player in the sandbox, however. By standing on the sidelines, the U.S. took a pass as supposed allies like Qatar and Turkey aided not the more liberal or nationalist Syrian opposition, but rather the most extreme elements. The simple fact is that both Assad and the opposition are now both equally detrimental to U.S. national security interests. Washington has no good options. The idea that some moderate force might emerge in Syria committed to rebuilding their shattered state rather than perpetrating terror against Syria's own population and that of its neighbors is now an unrealistic dream.
2013-02-15 00:00:00
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