Our Interest in Syria

Andrew C. McCarthy writes in the National Review:

Our vital interest in Syria (and Iraq and elsewhere, for that matter) is to prevent its being used as a platform for the launching of attacks against the United States, our allies, and our interests. Moreover, this, it is crucial to remember, is an American problem. It is not one we could responsibly delegate to another country’s “moderate rebels” even if they were numerous enough to need something bigger than a phone booth for their meetings.

That means it is going to take a large commitment of American forces on the ground as well as in the air to achieve our vital interests. But there is no political support for that in our country at the moment.

This seems correct. The United States cannot identify a realistic and desirable winner and will not commit to deposing a brutal Baathist dictator itself under an administration that campaigned against deposing the brutal Baathist dictator next door.