Big Red Car here. The Boss is back home and the weather is a bit milder. No connection.
Boss was in conversation with an old pal of his. Both interested in politics and got to talking about the sorry state of American foreign policy in the aftermath of the Syrian debacle.
Don’t get a Big Red Car wrong, there is much to argue for the elimination of Bashar al-Assad from the face of the Earth. Oh, yes.
There is, however, much to shake one’s head about in the conduct of the affair.
The Campaigner in Chief
First, we have the problem that our Commander in Chief is really a Campaigner in Chief. Whenever anything happens to threaten his sense of order, he responds with a speech and a campaign event.
In the aftermath of the Syrian red line – no red line – Vlad as Statesman imbroglio there was a big campaign style speech full of righteous indignation and posturing. There were also more than a handful of campaign style interviews with anyone who has a Sony camera and a microphone. Well, seven minutes each. Then there was an almost obligatory interview with Georgie S — George Stephanopolous.
Vlad the Diplomat and Political Pundit
The Big Red Car really wants to call Vladimir Putin — he formerly of the KBG and a man of questionable character by any intelligent observer — Vlad the Impaler. Cannot explain that urge but when a guy is a former blood thirsty spy, an invader of countries and a murderer of his own people — well, the Big Red Car says a pox on him.
So Vlad writes an Op-Ed in the freakin’ New York Times, apparently now the newspaper of record of Russian Presidents in addition to American Presidents, in which he takes the United States and President Obama, he of the Nobel Peace Prize, to task for our poor handling of all things Syria.
Old Vlad failed to mention that Syria may have actually acquired those chemical weapons from, well, him. Yes, Syria is a Russian client state — the last one left in the Middle East. Nobody likes losing their last client, no?
Who’s on first now?
The Big Red Car admits to not being able to follow any of the following:
Can the President bomb Syria without Congressional authorization?
Will the Congress even consider it?
Is there a snow ball’s chance in Hell that it could pass both Houses?
Do we trust the Russians as an honest broker for their own client state and ally? Really?
Will the United Nations undertake this Russian – Syrian chemical weapons cataloging, compiling and destruction plan? Really?
How long will this all take?
Will the United States agree to forego support to Syrian rebels as a part of this plan?
Will the United States agree not to bomb Syria?
Will the United States inflict a “incredibly small” punishment on Syria given its reluctance to “do” pinpricks?
Does the United States really want regime change? If so, why? If not, why not?
Are the Syrian rebels really Jeffersonian democrats? Of are they al Qaeda? Or just jihadists?
Is Iran watching?
Who made that damn red line in the first place?
Just when you thought it could not get worse
So now comes Secretary John Kerry, one of the historically and hysterically most ardent anti-war critics in the history of the United States, with his new warrior garb fitted and tailored and warning Iran that while we may have clowned it up in Syria, we will definitely be using military force against them if they cross any damn red lines.
Oh, yeah, forgot to mention that red line in Iran.
Funniest thing — guess who’s going to Iran to “help” them just a bit — you got it, Vlad the Peacemaker.
Both of our Hermes tie guys — President Obama and Secretary Kerry — warn the world that the United States has not lost its credibility. [Hey, why would anyone think that, sayeth the Big Red Car.]
If you have to tell the world you have not “lost your credibility” — guess what? Yes, you have lost your credibility. Sorry, Old Sport, that’s the way it is.
This is what is called the “Beclowning of American Foreign Policy”. Beclowning is a new word that has come to be identified with the Obama administration. Bit picky and mean, really. Fits well, nonetheless, no?
But, hey, what the Hell do I know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car.
