Making the World More Dangerous

Making the World More Dangerous
Mona Charen 7-2-10

The timing could hardly have been worse: Just days after President Obama shared a chummy hamburger with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev -- the better to dramatize our newly "reset" relations -- the FBI announced the arrest of 11 "deep cover" spies who have been paid and plied by Moscow Center for decades.

The Obama administration seemed more embarrassed about it than the Russians, rushing to reassure the world that this will not affect our new relationship with Russia one bit. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon explained that "We would like to get to the point where there is just so much trust and cooperation between the United States and Russia that nobody would think of turning to intelligence means to find out things that they couldn't find out in other channels."

It's not easy to divert the Obama administration from its pursuit of "engagement." Not even repeated slaps in the face will do the trick.

Consider another diplomatic initiative -- that toward Syria. This week, it was revealed that Syria had obtained a sophisticated radar system from Iran (in violation of U.N. sanctions -- but don't hold your breath for an emergency Security Council session). The radar would make it much more difficult for Israeli jets to fly undetected over Syrian air space en route to Iran. If shared with Hezbollah, a Syrian/Iranian client based in Lebanon, the radar would vastly improve the accuracy of Hezbollah's missiles and bolster its air defenses.

This is merely the latest signal of contempt by Syria for the Obama administration's sedulous courting. Two months ago, Israel announced that Syria had transferred SCUD missiles (range: 400 miles) to Hezbollah, permitting the terror group to hit Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Dimona, and Ben Gurion International Airport. In 2006, when Hezbollah launched a war against Israel, its missiles had a range of 20 to 60 miles. But, never daunted, the administration interpreted this provocation as proof that even more friendliness was required of us. "Sending an ambassador to Syria who can press the Syrian government in a firm and coordinated fashion ... is part of our strategy to achieve comprehensive peace in the region," the White House explained.

Since January 2009, a procession of high-level officials, including Under Secretary of State William Burns, Sen. John Kerry, and George Mitchell (three times) has trooped to Damascus for talks with Bashar al-Assad. The administration also announced the appointment of an ambassador, Robert Ford, for the first time in five years (though Republicans have so far effectively blocked him). The Obama White House also relaxed export licenses, invited the Syrian deputy foreign minister to Washington, and withdrew U.S. objections to Syrian admission to the World Trade Organization. Kerry stressed that his visit and the decision to send an ambassador to Damascus reflect the fact that engagement with Syria is "a priority at the highest levels of our government."

Others drank the Kool-Aid as well. Newsweek magazine praised the engagement initiative as recently as February, saying, "President Bashar al-Assad may finally be ready to play ball . . .. Those small steps (like Ford's appointment, for example) are exactly the thing Syria is looking to respond to."

Or not. Just a day after Secretary of State Clinton conveyed to Damascus Obama's hope that the Syrians would draw closer to the U.S. and distance themselves from Iran, al-Assad hosted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for a lavish state visit. At a grinning joint press conference, the two competed to spew insults at the United States. Ahmadinejad looked forward to a new Middle East "without Zionists and without colonialists." Al-Assad, referring snidely to Clinton, said, "I find it strange how they talk about Middle East stability and at the same time talk about dividing (our) two countries." Regarding the suggestion that Syria distance itself from Iran, al-Assad noted coyly that he must not have understood "maybe because of translation error or limited understanding."

Apparently, al-Assad was too subtle for this crowd. For even after this, and even after the SCUDs, and even despite the radar, the Obama administration truckling continues. According to the June 15 Wall Street Journal, "The State Department has dispatched a high-level diplomatic and trade mission to Syria, according to senior U.S. officials, marking the latest bid by the Obama administration to woo President Bashar al-Assad away from his strategic alliance with Iran."

This is beyond naive. This is profoundly dangerous. Who can possibly fail to notice that the Obama administration not only imposes no costs on those who cross it, but redoubles its efforts to appease?
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We Spit in Your Eye and Call It Holy Water
Sandy Rios 7-2-10

“We spit in your eye and you call it Holy Water.” So the old Russian expression goes. For sixty years the truth was so twisted behind the iron curtain, reality was turned upside down. It was a shock to the national psyche when the Soviet Union broke up and the real truth about the world began to flood in.

People walked around dazed and confused as foreigners entered the country in droves, bringing information and knowledge at one time thought to be western “propaganda.” The only truth had been the truth propagated by the State. There is no God….Russians invented the airplane, the refrigerator. Capitalism is evil, the West corrupt.

Still the siren song of freedom caused some to whisper behind closed doors. “Babushkas,” (Russian grandmothers) taught the existence of God no matter the risk. They attended underground churches, sometimes dragged out and beaten, but they did not remain silent. And when the open acknowledgment of God was finally allowed , one by one, ballerinas and neurologists and members of the KGB remembered what their grandmothers had taught them in private and greeted with stunned amazement the possibility that maybe, just maybe there might be a God.

That may be hard for Americans to relate to since we are the epicenter of information…freely flowing…overwhelming, in fact. And yet…we witnessed something just this week reminiscent of the tactics of the KGB in the Old Soviet Union. And I’m not referring to the spy ring arrested for infiltrating the United States.

They did do that, of course. Ten of them…living in this country for years as American citizens, raising children and dogs, selling real estate, living beside residents who actually seemed to think it quite amusing they had been duped by neighbors-turned-Russian-spies. They expressed no fear. Bewilderment…amusement, yes, but no fear. It would be a great story to tell their grandchildren…an amusing interlude in their short lives…get them a few minutes on television. But nothing to be offended or concerned about.

Spies….from a foreign country…trying to undermine the security of their nation…but not to worry….

The press has soothed us with the notion that yes, they were spies, but they were bad ones. Sloppy…outdated…they probably didn’t gather much information. No harm done…just the stuff of a movie…life goes on.

The President of the United States had nothing to say. Twice he was asked to comment and both times he refused. We heard through that same press that he was miffed…angry the arrests had come shortly after he had shared hamburgers publicly with Russian President, Dmitry Mevedev. How dare the FBI conduct such an embarrassing arrest at such an inconvenient time.

The President was not angry at the Russians, just at the FBI for embarrassing him. He showed no sign of indignation, outrage, or protection for his homeland. Instead, his press secretary, Robert Gibbs rushed to microphone to assure “I do not believe this will affect the reset of our relationship with Russia.”

Good. A foreign power tries to infiltrate our country, steal secrets and compromise high-ranking officials…but not to worry…this will not affect our relationship with them.

President Vladimir Putin angrily rejected the FBI arrests saying that U.S. police had gone “out of control.” He and Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, accused the U.S. of trying to sabotage the “reset” of Russian/ American relations. Angry words…how dare you Americans arrest Russian spies on your soil and worse… make an arrest shortly after presidential hamburgers were shared?

Philip Gordon, top US State Department official for Europe said, “we are moving towards a more trusting relationship; we’re beyond the Cold War…I don’t think anyone was hugely shocked to know that some vestiges of old attempts to use intelligence are still there.” Translated? Espionage against the United States while feigning friendship? Ho- Hum.

Meanwhile the Justice Department weighed in responding to Russian outrage with the explanation “these arrests had to be carried out Sunday for several critical law enforcement and operational reasons.” Good. I’m glad we explained it to our “friends” the Russians so they won’t be mad at us any more and we can continue our new relationship, sharing our nuclear secrets and disarming our defenses.

“We spit in your eye and you call it Holy Water.” The Old Left outfoxes the New. How interesting.