Saturday April 30, 2011

I've Been Thinking:

US foreign policy toward Syria is fraught with misplays and misunderstandings.

The United States actually improved ties with Syria last year hoping that the Syrians would become players in the effort to drive a wedge between their country and Iran.

After four years without an ambassador in Syria, the United States returned its ambassador in February of 2010. Once again, the US was hopeful that Syria would change and was rewarding the Syrians for anticipated good behavior.

How can "hope" and "optimism" be considered foreign policy?

By its very nature foreign policy is the art of realistic assessment and understanding. When the United States is unrealistic in its assessments the greatest power in the Western world makes mistakes -like it is doing in Syria and did in Egypt.

Sometimes, the United States gets lucky. Bringing Syria before the UN Human Rights Council turned into an important victory for the US and for the West. On Friday, the UN Human Rights Council voted on a resolution that narrowly condemned Syria. Of the 47 members, 26 voted to condemn, 9 voted against condemnation, 7 abstained and 5 refused to even attend.

The US could have lost the vote. And had they lost, it would have been a resounding loss for freedom against tyranny, oppression and thugs.

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