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Browse: Home » Syria » Page 10
Obama’s Dithering, Dickering, Dire Foreign Policy

Obama’s Dithering, Dickering, Dire Foreign Policy

September 9, 2013 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Last week was a stinging passage for President Obama as he tried and mostly failed to find support, at home and abroad, for his plan to bomb Syrian military facilities. Things will not improve for the beleaguered administration in days to…

Manipulated by power: What is wrong with the New York Times?

Manipulated by power: What is wrong with the New York Times?

September 6, 2013 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

The government is manipulating facts. There’s no credible evidence on Syria. Why is the Times pretending otherwise? The conflict between democracy at home and empire abroad has beset this nation since the Spanish-American War, a brief interlude of imperial display…

Obama’s Gambit on Syria Belies a Clear Mideast Policy

September 2, 2013 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

President Obama surprised allies and enemies alike when he stepped back over the weekend from plans to bombard Syria in response to Bashar al–Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons. Taking policy toward errant regimes in the Islamic world off autopilot—attack…

Lapdog media learns nothing, beats war drums again

Lapdog media learns nothing, beats war drums again

August 29, 2013 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

Have we forgotten Judith Miller already? Or Colin Powell at the U.N.? Before attacking Syria, let’s know the truth As of this writing, early Thursday morning, some Syrians are scheduled to pay with their lives for America’s “credibility.” The bombarding…

Syrian Crisis Exposes Obama’s Failed Mideast Policy

Syrian Crisis Exposes Obama’s Failed Mideast Policy

August 26, 2013 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

The U.S. response to the escalating Syria crisis requires more thought than emotion, and it has to reach across the board—to Egypt, to Iran, to the friendly, repressive Saudis and the friendly, repressive emirates, to the antagonizing Russians. In a word,…

Yellowcake all over again: Don’t believe the Syrian interventionists

Yellowcake all over again: Don’t believe the Syrian interventionists

August 23, 2013 · by Patrick L. Smith · in Articles, Salon

Possible chemical weapons attack has the usual hawks urging intervention in Syria. Their intel could be wrong again What we know about what just happened in Syria: Someone seems to have sent chemically toxic substances into several suburbs of Damascus…

As the Middle East Unravels, the US Pulls No Strings

July 1, 2013 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Much of the Middle East is suddenly coming unglued–with it, years of US effort to encourage democratic order in the region will go to waste. It is time for Washington to do something very smart–nearly nothing. Syria and Egypt are…

Obama Gives Syrian Rebels Sling Shots to Slay the Dragon

Obama Gives Syrian Rebels Sling Shots to Slay the Dragon

June 17, 2013 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Even as the White House asserts that Syrian President Bashar al–Assad has used chemical weapons against rebel insurgents, there are skeptics. The Russians, who support Assad, instantly questioned Washington’s evidence. So, now, do more objective experts who wonder why there…

Obama’s Red Line in Syria Was Drawn in Pencil

Obama’s Red Line in Syria Was Drawn in Pencil

May 13, 2013 · by Patrick Smith · in Articles, The Fiscal Times

Suddenly, the Syria crisis has grown more complicated for the US—and notably for the Obama administration. After many months of staying scrupulously clear of a conflict that has now claimed 80,000 Syrian lives, it looks as though the White House…

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Writer, commentator, longtime newspaper and magazine correspondent abroad. Writes often on Europe and Asia. Published five books.

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