Why Syria Will Get Away With It

Deep in debt, the US struggles to end three wars. At the same time, the departing US secretary of defense criticized European NATO allies for a lack of commitment and poor military preparation. The combination of a lack of funds and fortitude has complicated Libyan intervention, which could allow the Syrian regime to get away with its brutal repression of its own citizens. Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times writes: “a 20-year experiment with the idea that western military force can put the world to rights is coming to a close.” In an ideal situation, liberal military intervention power would protect citizens and end conflicts, as was the case in Bosnia, Kosovo and East Timor. But long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which have left thousands dead and many more displaced, and an ongoing struggle to remove Gaddafi in Libya upend the cost-benefit analysis. NATO has been exposed as a limited military force without the US, and Western political leaders will henceforth be extra cautious before embarking on future military interventions. – YaleGlobal