New York Times Editorial, "Truth About Syria": Horse Feathers!

For many months, this blog has observed the horrifying refusal of President Obama to confront Syrian President Assad, who has been busy deploying tanks and warships against his own people. Obama has finally asked Assad to remove himself from power, and a New York Times editorial entitled "Truth About Syria" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/opinion/truth-about-syria.html?_r=1&ref=opinion) has this to say of Obama's long overdue declaration:

"It took too long, but President Obama has finally — and unequivocally — called for the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to step down and end his murderous war against the Syrian people. In another belated but welcome move, Mr. Obama also ordered a stiff new array of sanctions, including freezing all Syrian government assets in the United States and banning American citizens and corporations from doing business with the Syrian government.

. . . .

The United Nations estimates that at least 2,000 Syrians have been killed in the uprising since mid-March. A report by the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights cited summary executions and gross violations of human rights that 'may amount to crimes against humanity.'”

Better late than never? I suppose. However, observe that the Times editorial does not mention the thousands of Syrians who are "missing" since the uprising.

The Times editorial also fails to note that the American ambassador to Damascus has still not been recalled. As reported by NOW News (http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=302162), Obama has "no plans" to recall US Ambassador Ford.

Ford was appointed ambassador without US Senate approval (see: http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.com/search/label/Robert%20Ford), and his recall would amount to further embarrassing acknowledgment of the failure of Obama's outreach program to "misunderstood" tyrannies.