According to Politico, both current and former US officials have united in their assessment that Obama's disinclination to act more aggressively against Russia's anti-terror campaign in Syria undermines the public image of the US leader and signals the country's weakness.
"We're just so reactive," complained one senior administration official. "There's just this tendency to wait and see what steps other actors take."
Putin's direct military intervention in Syria shifted the world's attention from the US president to the Russian head of state. US Secretary of State John Kerry had high hopes for following the Iran nuclear agreement by cooperating with Iran and Russia to achieve a political settlement to the conflict, something which now seems increasingly unlikely given Washington's refusal to cooperate with Moscow's campaign against insurgents in Syria. The Pentagon's failed plan to train and equip "moderate" Syrian rebels is adding to administration officials' frustrations.
Despite recent measures to find new approaches to the conflict, the chances of success are close to zero, according to some sources close to the administration. Obama's West Wing inner circle allegedly acts like a "brick wall" in the face of any dissenting views, Politico reported.
Putin embarrassing Obama on the world stage!! #Syria #SyrianRefugees #tcot #RedNationRising pic.twitter.com/LknUHtFrTu
— Young Conservative™ (@steve0423) October 16, 2015
The online magazine also pointed out that Obama's refusal to take a "harder line" against Putin has alienated several of his administration's Russia experts, including Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs; Celeste Wallander, the National Security Council's senior director for Russia and Eurasia; and Evelyn Farkas, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia.
It's not the first time Obama has refused to heed the calls of national security advisors demanding tougher action in Syria and against Putin's foreign policy.
.@thehill: "McCain: Obama 'floundering' in wake of #Putin's buildup in #Syria" http://t.co/hkqJg7eB4l
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) October 14, 2015
In 2012, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton together with CIA Director David Petraeus and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta sought support for an idea to arm and train a moderate Syrian rebel force, but the plan in that form was rejected by the president.
