Among Obama's Failures, Look At How Syria Is Thriving

[Syria's behavior] "has not met our hopes and expectations" and has "not met its international obligations."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Funny, it seems like the Muslim world has no problem with Syria. In fact, despite the Obama administration's frustration with Syria, it seems to be doing quite well:

Damascus played a role in helping Iraq's fractious politicians agree this month to form a new government after eight months of deadlock. Now with Lebanon's factions heading for a possible new violent collision, Arabs have had to turn to Syria in hopes of ensuring peace, even as Damascus backs Lebanon's heaviest armed player, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.


...Since 2005, Washington — along with its Arab allies — hoped to squeeze Syrian influence out of its smaller neighbor Lebanon. But Arab powers that once shunned Damascus, particularly Saudi Arabia, have had to acknowledge its regional weight.

This month, Syrian and Saudi officials have been holding talks trying to avert an explosion in Lebanon. It's a remarkable turnaround from several years ago, when the two countries were locked in a bitter rivalry and an outright personal feud between their leaders, Syrian President Bashar Assad and Saudi King Abdullah.

Isn't it great to see how successful Obama has been in bringing the Muslim world together?

Of course, the Syria that is now thriving in the Middle East is not the one that Obama thought he would be able to encourage. Syria's success has come despite Obama's best efforts:

It has done so while ignoring incentives from Washington. President Barack Obama has made repeated overtures to Damascus this year, nominating the first U.S. ambassador to Syria since 2005 and sending top diplomats to meet with Assad, in hopes of swaying it away from its alliance with Iran and regional militant groups.

What a difference 4 years can make. It seems that Assad has taken the motto of "Hope and Change" and has effected a real turnaround from where Syria was not so long ago:

Syria's emergence as a regional heavyweight is a reversal from just a few years ago. Rafik Hariri's assassination prompted a wave of anti-Syrian protests that forced Damascus to withdraw its military from Lebanon and end its long control there. In 2006, relations with some Arab states took a dive when Assad called Saudi King Abdullah and other Arab leaders "half men" over their disapproval of Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid, which sparked a 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Syria could benefit from improved ties with Washington, which would boost its economy and end sanctions first imposed by President George W. Bush. Assad also wants U.S. mediation in indirect peace talks with Israel — a recognition that he needs Washington's help to win the return of the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

But after rebuilding its regional status, it may feel less of a need to pay the price for better ties.

At least now we know why Iran feels they can ignore the sanctions that Obama has thrown at them.
And if Syria can thumb its nose at the US and thrive, you know that Ahmadinejad thinks he has nothing to worry about--and why.

Technorati Tag: Syria and Iran.