In year-end report, State Department boasts of bringing 'peace and security' to Syria
Sometimes this administration does something that is so outrageous that it defies a rational explanation. In the case of the year-end report issued by State Department spokesman John Kirby, you might want to ask him what he's been smoking and find out where you can get some more.
A boastful recap of the State Department's accomplishments, written by spokesman John Kirby, includes the bold subheadline of "Bringing Peace, Security to Syria" above a more modest entry talking about U.S. aid for those affected by the country's turmoil and the U.S. push for a political transition from President Bashar Assad.
While Secretary of State John Kerry has played an integral role in the Syrian peace talks, the country remains embroiled in a nasty civil war and terrorized by the Islamic State.
"The United States and many members of the international community have stepped up to aid the Syrian people during their time of need - the United States has led the world in humanitarian aid contributions since the crisis began in 2011," Kirby said.
Kirby wrote that the Syrians have "borne a heavy load" but that under Kerry's stewardship the United Nations passed a U.S.-sponsored resolution to create a road map for Syria going forward.
The apparent declaration of a win echoes comments from President Barack Obama, who has been heavily criticized for calling the Islamic State a "JV team" in a January 2014 article and for calling the group's territorial expansion efforts "contained," just days before the Paris attacks.
Kirby also explicitly touched on the Islamic State, also called ISIL, saying that the U.S. is "winning [the] fight against violent extremists."
"Although challenges remain, we have made positive strides over the last year, including in our fight against ISIL," Kirby said. "This forward progress will only continue as more countries pledge resources to the anti-ISIL effort and as citizens around the world increasingly reject ISIL's misguided ideology."
Kirby cited the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, hosted in February, which he called "monumental."
Wow. Just...wow.
As for aid to Syria to relieve the humanitarian disaster underway, yes, the U.S. has contributed more than anyone to the effort. But the world is coming up about $2.5 billion short.
As for the rest of that happy talk about Syria, there is no mention of the Russian intervention or the continued heavy involvement of Iran, who is fighting U.S.-backed rebel groups.
Some of the other "accomplishments" cited by Kirby are equally dubious:
Other things the State Department is counting as wins: re-establishing ties with Cuba, protecting the Arctic, clinching the Iran nuclear agreement, stopping the Ebola outbreak, committing to U.N. development goals, securing a free trade deal, preserving ocean health, and reaching the climate agreement.
Most of those "accomplishments" we can do without. But it's interesting that Kirby cites "saving the Arctic" when he didn't mention whom we are saving it for. Russia is building military bases in the Arctic, putting itself in position to exploit the mineral riches of the region and giving it a valuable strategic position.
I suppose this sort of wild spinning was inevitable. Did we really expect the State Department to tell us the world is going to hell in a handbasket and the secretary of state is more than partly to blame?
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