General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Magical thinking [View all]paulbibeau
(743 posts)The people who think this was all part of some master plan have to explain what part of it involved setting a redline before we got an assurance the Brits would be backing us. And losing the Brits. And losing the UN. And then going to Congress at the last minute, and having those whip counts show that Congress was about to smack the bill down. And having John Kerry make that remark that sounded like we actually were going to put boots on the ground - which he had to walk back, making him look pretty inept.
And having even guys like McCain - who is sexually aroused at the thought of military intervention - give your people all kinds of trouble. All of this undercut the credibility of the threat. Which means it decreased the leverage. And it embarrassed him and his administration.
This is like the debt ceiling/fiscal cliff negotiations. It's ugly and messy, and it doesn't make him look good.
He was STILL smart enough to find a way out, and for that I am extremely happy. It was a bad situation all around - a completely intractable humanitarian crisis with few good guys and no good options.
But the guy's not Keyser Soze. He's just not W. So... good enuff.