On Inside Washington Friday, PBS’s Mark Shields and NPR’s Nina Totenberg predictably echoed the Administration’s claims that its threats of force in Syria led Russian President Vladimir Putin to broker a chemical weapons deal.
Fortunately for viewers, syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer was present to scold his fellow panelists for “spinning from the White House” (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: But the fact is that the idea that you guys are spinning from the White House that it was the threat of the use of force that scared Putin into offering this; if so, he would have offered a week ago or two weeks ago when it really appeared imminent.
When did he offer it? Within hours after there was a gaffe by our Secretary of State, the Laurel to Obama's Hardy, who said, “Well, you know, if you get rid of his weapons.” They saw an opening. They know that there is no way he’ll dismantle his weapons, but it would stop any attempt to get rid of Assad. Putin has a single objective: he wants Assad in place - keep him in place, and win the war. And that he’s achieving.
Exactly.
What Shields, Totenberg, and much of the Obama-loving media are missing is absolutely none of America's long-term goals are achieved in this deal.
Assad remains in power with Russian backing to completely annihilate the rebellion.
Obama himself said two years ago after the war started that Assad must go.
Not only is that not the case, Assad comes out of this face-off with the United States a far stronger leader than he was before.
That people in the media don't recognize this is another example of how woefully informed they are
