Obama stumbling toward Damascus?

I could not tell when Obama will repeat his first stumble in the first presidential debate with Mitt Romney. Here he has fighting Assad. Again the American intelligentsia is not taking it well. As before I believe there is a method in his stupidity which he keeps close to his chest. Perhaps only Michelle knows what he is really up to.

Few leaders know how to be weak in order to be strong and for a young leader like him, the lack of experience must also have frightened him. Courage is not being brave but staring fear it is face. Remember he is black and what his people had been through.

Some said drawing a red line to Assad was a mistake. I think that is shallow thinking. Willy Assad like his compatriots in North Korea are extremely sensitive and well versed in avoid American strengths and seeking out her weaknesses. The American President had no choice about declaring the red line. He had to turn weakness into strength and a main part to get there is to shock by acting weak and alone since the US power leaning apparatus could never walk with the President.

At the end of the day you are not powerful unless you also own the initiative. Reactive power does not solve problems only good for not getting yourself killed when defeated. America is a reactive power in the Middle East. The classic way to regain initiative is to surprise and the best way is to appear to weaken yourself.

The task of the US President is not waging war but making difficult and complex US politics work for America and the world. At least that is what I took away from my daughter's reading of Lincoln to me. But I think she is too young to grasp this even if the seed of the idea came from her. Tomorrow perhaps.

Update: 11:10am

Just came across a very good article by Peggy Noonan in the WSJ: Why America is saying 'No'. She gets it.

Update: 7:40pm

The Americans have every incentive to make a deal here. If the threat of arms had brought everyone to negotiate successfully this is the best possible outcome.