Obama's spectacularly disastrous Syria accomplishment
The president completely botched his chance to win an honorable peace
"There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight," proclaimed Woodrow Wilson in 1915. "There is such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right."
Despite this rhetoric, Wilson, of course, eventually led America into World War I. And until President Obama utterly botched his handling of Syria, America was positioned to make this early Wilsonian argument — to demonstrate, as Wilson said, the "splendid courage of reserve moral force."
Now, instead of taking a page from early Wilson, Obama seems to be taking a page from late Jimmy Carter.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
That's too bad, because there is something to the "too proud to fight" theory. After all, who says going to war always demonstrates toughness? Why should we — a strong nation — be pushed into war? Strong nations, after all, get to decide when and where to fight. Strong nations aren't reactive. They proactively make decisions based on their own interests, values, and timetables.
Worrying about how other nations might perceive our decisions (this was the key argument many of the most prominent hawks used to justify intervention) is an ironic way of demonstrating strength. In fact, it shows weakness. Strong people — strong nations — don't spend a lot of time worrying about what others think of them.
President Obama might have adopted this thinking, and in doing so, he might have kept us out of war honorably. Or, he might have gone the other direction and sent a strong message to Assad, and this might all be over by now.
Either way, we very well might have been in a stronger position than we find ourselves in today.
Instead, from the botched "red line" declaration to the last-minute decision to seek congressional approval to being outmaneuvered by Vladimir Putin to the meandering prime-time speech, Obama has had the worst of both worlds.
Think I'm being hyperbolic? Consider this from last Wednesday's New York Times:
I don't know how anyone can read this and not be terribly, terribly embarrassed. The real shame is that President Obama had the chance to demonstrate toughness and avoid being dragged into a senseless war where there were no good guys to support. Instead, he dithered. And now, we have what seems to be a dishonorable peace. And that really could invite future provocation. It was really quite a spectacularly disastrous accomplishment.
What is more, rather than setting a new precedent regarding congressional approval, Obama may very well have made it more likely the next president will act unilaterally. After all, why risk looking this foolish?
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Matt K. Lewis is a contributing editor at TheWeek.com and a senior contributor for The Daily Caller. He has written for outlets including GQ Politics, The Guardian, and Politico, and has been cited or quoted by outlets including New York Magazine, the Washington Post, and The New York Times. Matt co-hosts The DMZ on Bloggingheads.TV, and also hosts his own podcast. In 2011, Business Insider listed him as one of the 50 "Pundits You Need To Pay Attention To Between Now And The Election." And in 2012, the American Conservative Union honored Matt as their CPAC "Blogger of the Year." He currently lives in Alexandria, Va.
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published