The Fictitious Unclenched Fist

By Jan Markell

What is happening in Mideast diplomacy as I write this is another exercise in delusion. Foreign policy decisions are jarring the nerves of sane-thinking people. They are riddled with "the appease disease" again, a tactic that simply never works. Enemies of freedom hate appeasement weasels.

As former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton says,

"We're seeing a naive and dangerous approach to foreign policy."

We have a term for the kind people in the frozen tundra of Minnesota: "Minnesota nice." We're a friendly bunch even if it's cold eleven months out of the year. It seems the Obama administration is using "Minnesota nice" with Syria, one of the worst barbarian regimes on earth, even though Nancy Pelosi and Rick Warren came back with glowing reports some time ago.

Ending a four-year diplomatic embargo on Damascus, the Obama administration confirmed that it is sending representatives to Syria for "conversations to improve relations."

We don't want relations with Syria. They are a tyrant and repressive regime similar to Iran. They may play a great game of pretend about co-operation but they will always stab Israel, America, and the entire West in the back with a smile on their face. Their strongman leader, Bashir Assad, took over for his father a few years ago. His father thought nothing of blowing away Syrian cities if they had too many "resisters" in them.

Obama says that if...

"countries are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us."

But Syria does not have an unclenched fist!

Additionally, last week America's Commerce Department approved the exporting of components for Syria's fleet of aging aircraft. This is aircraft that would be used to wipe Israel off the map if they could.

Damascus is a pawn of Iran, part of Iran's growing empire which has put the entire region in danger. And now America is complicit in this.

Let's look at the real Syria to which we are extending an olive branch. Israel destroyed the beginnings of a nuclear reactor there in the fall of 2007. Syria is building a new chemical weapons factory next to a long-range missile base. This way she hides the evidence of its mushrooming nuclear weapons program. Clearly, Syria is preparing for war and not peace. Her fist is clenched. She supported Hamas in the Gaza war and is buying billions of dollars of advanced weaponry from Russia.

It seems certain that Benjamin Netanyahu will be Israel's next Prime Minister. The Obama administration will exert pressure on him to come to the peace table and offer up the Golan Heights to Syria. This area was taken by Israel for security purposes in 1967. Netanyahu will be pressured to cave, sacrifice security, and bow to Western wishes that are across-the-board pro-Arab.

Let's sum this up. Syria is preparing for war. America wants to be her friend anyway. America is rebuilding Syria's fighter jets. Syria is ruthless and is pursuing nuclear capability and an expansion of her chemical weaponry. Syria wants to wipe out the very memory of Israel's existence. She would also like to wipe out the memory of America's existence! She is a sister of Iran. She sponsors terror. Syria has been on a conventional weapons-buying binge to equip its 380,000-man army. In the past three years, Syria spent more than $3 billion on weapons.

So again I ask, do you see an unclenched fist?

At some point Damascus is to be leveled according to Isaiah 17. This is an end-time scenario and that day may be closer than we think now that she is rattling so many sabers. And it may be an inexperienced president who wants to make friends with the enemies of America who could spur an attack on Israel. He believes appeasement is the answer when it comes to foreign policy.

We are in turbulent times. Everyone I speak to has some level of apprehension. It is good to remember some Bible verses.

"When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Psalm 11:3)
"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord" (Micah 7:7).
"And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ" (Philippians 4:7).

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