Has Obama already doomed the Syria mission to failure?

A limited strike may wind up being more a symbolic gesture than a practical, lasting solution

Obama
(Image credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Obama administration is prepared to launch a limited offensive against Syria, and could reportedly begin firing cruise missiles at select targets in a matter of days.

The administration's rationale is clear: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad allegedly used chemical weapons on civilians, a war crime that crosses the "red line" President Obama laid down last year. Yet the practical effects of the strike, and the way the administration has clearly telegraphed it, are raising questions about whether the rumored offensive would accomplish much of anything in the long run.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.