The UN and ISIL - Promises, Promises

President Obama addressed the UN General Assembly yesterday. (Photo/in.reuters.com)

President Obama gave a speech at the UN

(Kinda like when Daniel stepped into the lions' den)

He stood up to Russia in support of the Ukraine;

Said that Putin's actions there would cost more than they'd gain.

Mainly though, he spoke about the flailing Middle East;

Pointing out, when tensions rise, religions are the yeast.

Sunni versus Shia versus Christian versus Jew...

When you fund a sect you're funding terrorism, too.

Voting was unanimous; the Council stands opposed

To the new Islamic State (whose oil fields we've just closed.)

Countries pledged to do their part - whatever that might be.

Will they keep their solemn words? We'll have to wait and see.

Syria - What Do You Do When All of Your Options Suck?

(Photo/Slate.com)

Assad's using Sarin gas - or so it would appear.

Evidence, they're saying, isn't absolutely clear.

Assad told the UN they could look but changed his mind,

Indicating he's afraid of what they're gonna find.

President Obama said that gas would cross a line;

(I guess bombing your civilian population's fine)

John McCain, and others, say that line has now been crossed

Thus, we have to arm the rebels, never mind the cost.

You can't guarantee which way a well-armed rebel aims.

When it turns to civil war, guess who the region blames.

I think, first, we need to get the Russians on our side.

Only way to do that is to prove Assad has lied.

Give AID to the countries where most Syrians have fled;

Make sure they have shelter, clothes, and water - that they're fed.

Prove guilt beyond shadow of a doubt before we start

Interfering as a country tears itself apart.

Across the Pond (Kind of) - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Swan Song

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (Photo/news.com.au)

I have heard a swan will sing, just once, before it dies...

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sung one full of lies.

He's as lame as ducks can get but his last U.N. speech

Gave this narcissist a global stage from which to screech.

On the Jew's High Holy Day; called them "uncivilized."

Quoted Persian poetry until he realized

He had lost his audience.  The U.S. didn't show.

We already knew which way the wind was gonna blow.

Middle East is all our fault.  We're Satan...  Blah, blah, blah.

Persia has been civilized forever...  Rah, rah, rah.

Just ignore the tensions over Syrians who've died;

Never mind the I.A.E.A. claiming that you've lied.

Problems in the Middle East go back 3,000 years

And Iran, for much of it's, incited neighbors' fears.

Even its own citizens are careful where they walk...

That was not a swan song - that was Mahmoud's final squawk.

Race for the White House - President Obama Enjoys The View

The President and First Lady sit down with the women of The View. (Photo/ABC)

President Obama's being criticized again;

Didn't meet world leaders who attended the U.N.

This has knocked important, foreign noses out of joint;

'though I wish he'd met with some, I guess I see his point.

With our moral suasion having reached its lowest ebb -

Owing to some weird film that's been posted on the Web -

What could he accomplish; have we not already said

Syria's a travesty?  Too many people dead.

Why sit down with Netanyahu (who he doesn't like)

When he won't agree with him on a preemptive strike?

Why have talks with Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood?

Right now, our relations with Egyptians are not good.

Only thing you get from meetings?  Headlines FOX can use;

Something they can spin about, in keeping with their views...

Which folks did he meet with?  Why did someone get the snub?

Who is in and who is out of that exclusive club?

At the risk of running long, I also have to say

I don't think world leaders would expect it anyway...

Not in this election year - not if they read the news.

I would also choose The View if in Obama's shoes.

Across the Pond - Syria and the Russians

Putin and Ahmadinejad must be so proud.

 

Really wish that I'd been wrong but, sadly, I was not

Yet another battle against babies has been fought.

Youngest victim - 3 months old - they stabbed him through the head.

Assad will not stop 'til every rebel Sunni's dead.

I cannot believe the Russian people are aware

Of what Assad's doing with their weapons or they'd share

In the world's revulsion...  Then they'd back a U.N. vote.

Russian people I have met would not sell him a coat...

Never mind the systems that the Syrians just bought.

All I can imagine is that Putin plain forgot

Russia's a democracy and citizens won't stand

For supporting monsters who have gotten out of hand.

Across the Pond - Syria; "We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat."

Photo credit/AP

 
Wish that I could say Assad has gone too far this time

And that he'll be punished for his latest, deadly crime.

Wish that little bodies were not lined up in the streets;

Shot or blown up babies hidden underneath those sheets.

True that Russia just condemned the massacre and yet,

Will they back that up with sanctions aimed at Assad? Nyet.

Everyone agrees that killing children isn't good

Even if they're living in a rebel neighborhood...

Saying only that and nothing more is not enough

But, without the full U.N., all we can do is bluff.

War's now spread to Lebanon as ethnic tensions flared;

Can't imagine other nearby nations will be spared.

Diplomats say Kofi Annan's plan is all there is.

I don't mean to tell the U.N. delegates their biz;

But, Assad's a killer shark.  The next  time that they vote

Hope they'll reconsider - think we'll need a bigger boat.

Across the Pond - Syrian Escalation

excerpted from
Article first published as Syria Fires Into Turkey and Lebanon on Technorati.

Syrian President Bashar al Assad (Photo credit: The Examiner)

I would think that escalation isn't what was meant

After all the time and effort Kofi Annan spent

Hashing out agreements with the Syrian regime

But, that's what he's gotten for his efforts it would seem.

Now, instead of winding down, Assad is ramping up.

Should we have anticipated he would do so? Yup.

But I never dreamed he'd dare to shoot and injure Turks,

Well across the border, doing refuge aid works.

Turkey's not the only country's border that's been crossed;

Lebanese photographer was also shot and lost.

It's not just the Syrians that Assad's people killed.

I would bet his few remaining allies weren't thrilled.

How much longer will it be?  How many more must die

Before Russians and Chinese are tired of the guy?

Very clear his promises to stop to the UN

Are a stalling tactic that will fail. What happens then?