RE: Today’s front page NYT story headline:  Obama Considers Talks With Putin on Syria Crisis.

Considers?  What’s to consider?

Wouldn’t it seem reasonable for the leaders of the two most powerful nations on earth to discuss a crisis that threatens the very survival of world order? You think maybe together they could strong arm President Assad to stop the air strikes that are killing his people?

It seems to me that the radical Islamic uprising is a far more dangerous peril than manmade global warming, Obama’s signature issue that he thinks will guarantee his legacy.

The real truth emerges on page ten of the Times’ article. “Meeting with the Russian strongman would only make the president look weak,” said John Herbst, a former ambassador to the Ukraine and member of the Atlantic Council in Washington (whatever that is).

For seven years, Obama has assiduously avoided Putin who has outgunned him at every turn. Putin won in Ukraine, he intervened in the Iran talks and got the Iranians to finally talk with John Kerry.  U.S. imposed sanctions have shaved only 1.5% of Russian economy.  Oil prices have had a much larger impact on their GDP than did the sanctions.  (Side note:  Exxon Mobil lost over $1 billion when its deal with Russia on the Sakhalin oil and gas project was cancelled due to the sanctions.)

So, with the U.S. paralyzed over intervening in the Syrian mess and ISIS getting stronger every day, Putin has acted by sending in tanks, planes and troops to help bring the slaughter to a halt. Give the guy credit; at least he has the balls to try something. If Russia benefits in the long run by selling Syria guns or tanks – so what! That’s how the world works;  something Obama will never comprehend. Perhaps with American planes in the air and Russian troops on the ground ISIS could be wiped out. We’ll never know if we don’t try.

The list of lawless countries with no controlling authority after a dictator falls is long:  Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Tunisia and Yemen: not to mention all the jungle countries of Sub-Sahara Africa. Parenthetically, the absence of help from America’s oil rich friends in the Middle East, from quelling violence between the Islamic sects to accepting refugees,  is likewise appalling.

If Syria is to avoid a similar fate it will be due to the efforts of strong leaders from the developed world, not the weakling in Washington.

All those European weenies struggling to keep Islamist refugees from their doors should pray Putin wins.

You are welcome.

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