Is even John Kerry sick of Obama’s Syria policy?
June 20, 2016US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday he had read a memo from a group of frustrated diplomats urging strikes against the Syrian regime and found it “very good.”
The “dissent cable” became public last week after 51 serving US officials signed a call for direct US military action to force Bashar al-Assad’s regime to negotiate for peace.
The memo was seen as a criticism of President Barack Obama’s cautious approach, but the “dissent channel” is an approved mechanism for diplomats opposed to official policy.
The State Department has already said the dissident mid-level staff will not face retribution for speaking out, and on Monday their boss Kerry appeared to signal support for their views.
Asked at a public event for college students whether he had read the dissenting memo, which was leaked to the press last week, Kerry said: “Yes. It’s very good. I’m going to meet with them.”
Kerry has remained publicly loyal to Obama as the five-year-old carnage in Syria continues, pushing an improbable joint US-Russian plan to lure Assad and the rebels to the negotiating table.
But Kerry’s equanimity in the wake of the dissent cable – an unusual if not an unprecedented rebuke from frontline staff – supports the Washington conventional wisdom that he is frustrated.
In the memo, the diplomats argue that the “judicious use” of cruise missile and airborne strikes against regime targets could encourage Assad to seek a negotiated solution.
AFP contributed this report.
Similar posts
-
Timeline of the Gaza Strip Since 1906
June 3, 20241906: A line is drawn between Egypt, ruled de facto by Britain, and the rest of the Ottoman Em...
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...