Obama's call for Syria regime change: Good move?

  President Obama and a host of key allies called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down. But after Libya, will anybody make Assad leave?  

President Obama ordered a freeze on all Syrian assets and banned American business prospects with the country in an attempt to force President Bashar al-Assad to end his deadly reign.
(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In a coordinated diplomatic offensive, President Obama called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, citing the deadly repression of popular protests that has gone on for five months in Syria. Quickly echoing Obama's call were Britain, France, Germany, Canada, and the European Union. Obama also ordered tough new sanctions, including a freeze on all Syrian assets and a ban against Americans doing business with the Syrian regime. At the same time, Obama said "the United States cannot and will not impose this transition upon Syria," apparently taking military intervention off the table. Is this the right call?

Obama's engaged in dangerous "meddling": At best, Obama's call for Assad's departure is toothless interference in Syria's affairs, says Daniel Larison in The American Conservative. But while it's "fairly mild meddling right now," such apparently harmless statements paved the way for the once-equally-unthinkable military action in Libya. Besides, if we're not willing to put our guns where our mouth is — and I hope we're not — what's the point in issuing a demand we all know Assad will ignore?

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