Staff Reports
President Biden’s recent revelry over the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raises the question of whether anyone should be taking him seriously. After 13 years of relentless civil war, Assad’s exit from power has led to a regime change that can only be described as a mixed bag at best. The Syrian opposition force taking control, an offshoot of Al-Qaeda called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is hardly a beacon of democracy or a model for U.S. interests abroad. But that doesn’t stop Biden from tossing around the term “democratic Syria” like it’s confetti at a parade.
Biden celebrated the fall of Assad while standing at the White House podium as if he had just scored a touchdown. High-fives all around, right? The fact that the U.S. military had to launch airstrikes against ISIS and other jihadists reveals a bit of irony: the U.S. is now allied with factions that are notorious for their own terrorism and human rights violations. The president lauded America’s commitment to working with “partners” to clean up the mess or, more aptly put, to try and control the chaos they did little to contain in the first place.
The “lame duck” comment seems appropriate when assessing Biden’s lengthy commentary on U.S. involvement in Syria. Did he really think anyone wanted to hear his administration patting itself on the back for pushing sanctions that haven’t exactly solved the problem? People are left wondering why sanctions are a preferred strategy when they continue to yield little fruit, and Assad’s departure leaves a vacuum that’s ripe for exploitation by other extremists.
In what can only be described as an optimistic spin, Biden pointed out that Russia and Iran are supposedly “weaker” now than when he took office. Does anyone really believe that? Russia, despite its own problems, is no stranger to snake-like maneuvering, and Iran’s proxies remain a potent threat. Biden’s bravado echoes his previous administration’s miscalculations, leaving it unclear whether a truly secure or stable Syria is even possible.
WATCH: Joe Biden Pledges Foreign Aid For Syria, Announces Airstrikeshttps://t.co/Yh1snL6vNK
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) December 9, 2024
As for the coming days, there’s a mixture of forward-thinking aspirations and a whole lot of wishful thinking. Biden cited plans for military presence in southern Syria aimed at containing ISIS and securing detention facilities. It sounds great in theory, but history shows that mere military presence has often done little to deter adversaries. The White House’s confidence about partnering with regional allies like Jordan and Israel, who are already overwhelmed with their own issues, seems overly optimistic. In the unpredictable game of geopolitics, it remains to be seen how many of these “partners” will actually have the U.S. back when push comes to shove.
With HTS now steering the ship, it raises the question of whether Biden is really reading the room. Sure, they may be playing nice now, but those with a memory will recall their dark history. The varying interests of jihadists, pro-democracy forces, and those merely interested in destabilizing the region create a spicy mix of unpredictability. Biden may proclaim vigilance, but it’s hard to ignore that some of the groups involved in dethroning Assad seem just as grim. Using this critical moment to push for human rights while turning a blind eye to past misconduct lacks any semblance of credibility. As the dust settles, the only certainty may be that the United States remains deeply entwined in yet another complex quagmire, rife for more chaos rather than the stability the president audaciously promised.
