Hillary Clinton said Saturday night that the United States does not have the luxury of focusing only on defeating the Islamic State but must take out Syrian leader Bashar al Assad, as well.
“The reason we are in the mess we are in … is because of Assad,” Clinton said. “I wish it could be either or.”
It was a striking contrast between the former secretary of state and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) who believes the United States must focus on ISIL for now and Assad later.
“Getting rid of dictators is easy, but before you do that you have to think about what happens the day after,” Sanders said.
Clinton continued to argue that it was important for Syrian fighters to see Assad gone in order to get more buy in on the ground.
“We will not get the support on the ground in Syria to dislodge ISIS if the fighters there who are not associated with ISIS but whose principal goal of getting rid of Assad don’t believe there is a political, diplomatic channel that is ongoing,” Clinton said.
Uh-oh. That’s a nice little world war you’re dragging us into, there. How on earth is that supposed to work? Haven’t we had enough of thinking we can just whip up a quick regime change without any repercussions?
Getting rid of Assad is a strategic outcome. Getting “more buy in” from Syrian rebel groups to fight ISIS are tactical steps to reach another hopefully strategic outcome of destroying ISIS. Yet there are forces loyal to the Assad-led Baath regime who are also fighting ISIS - more numerously and more effectively than the anti-Assad rebel groups. Hillary (and the advice she is getting) is wrong. ISIS is a regional threat, but Assad is not.
Assad is not a threat to the United States.
I think what she’s doing here is playing to the “Assad is a horridly cruel dictator” crowd. Which of course he is, but that was part of the ploy to whip Americans into a war fever that only removing Saddam Hussein could cure. Morally speaking, removing Assad is the right thing to do. As a practical matter, it’s likely another quagmire that will drain our blood and resources.
I feel like no matter what course is taken, something is going to go terribly wrong.
yeah, because the regime changes the u.s. has conducted have all been so fucking successful. she must be so pissed with kerry/obama right now and their decision to work with russia; instead of provoking the wars she clearly wants to conduct.