Well, probably not, but if Congress can delay having to make an unpleasant decision for a week or two, who gives a fuck? Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
The right is in one of its frequent “orgy of recrimination” phases—“Obama just handed over the entire Middle East to the Russians”—which is always entertaining. Well, let them froth, like so many spittle bugs, luxuriating in a bath of their own foaming wrath. I could wish that Putin hadn’t intervened, that Obama, and the right, would receive a direct rebuke from Congress, which certainly may happen yet, if Putin or Assad gets pissy, something that both of them are awfully good at. Expecting Putin, Assad, Kerry, and Obama to all act sensibly in public for a long time is certainly expecting an awful lot. But the issue has been fuzzed over for the moment, and Congress, certainly, is very good at fuzz. It’s far safer, and far more entertaining, to criticize than to act, and most Republicans, I suspect, will be happy to see Obama bumble and bungle, instead of “standing tall.”
As for the Obama Administration, they scarcely deserve this break, though the American people do. In his speech last night, the President both promised not to try to end the Syrian civil war and exploited the tragic death of children, which apparently is only really tragic when they die of chemical weapons. Having your legs blown off by land mine, or, say, a Tomahawk missile, doesn’t count.
As for the right, let them squall. They know they’ve suffered an embarrassing defeat. They’ve seen how few congressional Republicans have any interest in an enlarged U.S. military presence in the Middle East. “Regime change,” that headiest of champagnes, appears further off the table than ever. Even worse, concern for Christian populations in the Middle East, and concern that unquestioning support for Israel might endanger those populations, is very much on the table—put there in large part by Rand Paul. This is an issue that could significantly weaken knee-jerk evangelical support for Israel, and gives Likudists like William Kristol and Charles Krauthammer renewed reason to fear Rand Paul. Democrats confused, Republicans divided. Isn’t there anything else on?
Afterwords
John Judis provides a “thumbs up” review of Obama’s speech and the future of the President’s Syrian “policy,” while admitting that up until yesterday it was a shambles. Daniel Larison, more jaundiced and more just, explains why it still is, noting Obama’s numerous evasions, deceits, and non sequiturs. Greg Djerejian, waxing florid, as is his wont, notes a whole lot more.
