Robert Gates: Intervention in Syria Would Be ‘A Mistake’

When considering the likelihood of increased U.S. intervention in Syria, it’s useful to try to gauge the opinions of people in positions of policymaking and power. I’ve noted several times the Obama administration’s demonstrated reluctance to get further involved in the form of directly arming rebels, no-fly zones to topple the Assad regime, or even boots on the ground. I’ve also noted several establishment voices – people like Aaron David Miller and Zbigniew Brzezinski (among many others) – who don’t exactly have a history of dovishness but who firmly oppose further intervention in Syria.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.Another such establishment voice from a long-time DC insider spoke out against increased interventionism in Syria this weekend. Robert Gates, Obama’s former Secretary of Defense who worked under at least six U.S. presidents, appeared on Face the Nation to say military action in Syria would be “a mistake.”

Gates: For us to think we can influence or determine the outcome of that, I think is a mistake. I thought it was a mistake in Libya. And I think it is a mistake in Syria. We overestimate our ability to determine outcomes, even if we had intervened more significantly in Syria a year ago or six months ago. I– think that caution, particularly in terms of arming these groups and in terms of U.S. military involvement, is in order.

Schieffer: Well what should we do?

Gates: Well, my question back to you is: Why should it be us? There are other powers in the region, Turkey and others, that have military capabilities. You have Europeans that are much closer and whose interests are much– are equally affected. I understand our broad interests in the Middle East. And I understand the risks to us of chaos in Syria and of an ethnic cleansing there– once the civil war comes to an end, no matter who wins it. But the question that you asked me is the question I think there– we don’t have a satisfactory answer to. What should we do? What can we do? I believe that if we’re to do anything, it is to pick and choose the opposition groups that we think have some– moderation and would, you know, espouse what we think is in the best interest of the region– provide them with intelligence, with basic military equipment, work through Turkey and other countries perhaps in providing some basic military equipment. But I think our direct involvement and particularly our direct military involvement would be a mistake. You know, I oversaw two wars that began with quick regime change. And we all know what happened after that. And as I said to the Congress when we went into Libya, when they were talking about a no-fly zone, “It begins with an act of war.” And haven’t we learned that when you go to war, the outcomes are unpredictable? And anybody who says, “It’s gonna be clean. It’s gonna be neat. You can establish the safe zones. And it’ll be– it’ll just be swell.” Well, most wars aren’t that way.

See the interview below (the Syria part begins at about 4:10):

Gates is no longer in government and his stated opposition certainly doesn’t mean there will be no escalation of U.S. intervention in Syria, but the fact that the bulk of such establishment voices have so publicly opposed it is an indication of just how extremely irresponsible and illegitimate it would be. I mean, for goodness sake, Gates goes on to give lukewarm praise for the Iraq war. If even someone like that opposes war in Syria…

114 thoughts on “Robert Gates: Intervention in Syria Would Be ‘A Mistake’”

  1. "Schieffer: Well what should we do?"

    This is the problem. Right here.

    What unbelievable arrogance to think that "we" should do something to interfere in another soveriegn nation's internal affairs. Because Americans don't respect other nation's soveriegnty, someday other nations will interfere in our country all they want to and we won't be able to do a thing about it.

    1. Even Gate's position is not acceptable, since it presupposes that our allies and proxies intervene in Syria. Nor does it appear he opposes forced regime change, even though what has been done to bring it about has been violative of the U.N. Charter and international law. Furthermore, if Presidential elections in Syria were held in 2014 as originally scheduled, and Assad were to run again, the smart money would be on him to win.

    2. Look at your own history.

      Which nation was the original target for a Humanitarian Intervention?

      The United States.

      Which political leader was "demonised" to justify it?

      Abraham Lincoln.

      Those putting out this were of course nort sincerely, they only said this to get British Victorian middle class Liberals to support Intervention in the ACW.

      But other parts of British society didn't buy it – the cotton operatives of Lancashire rioted – and the incident is still commemorated by Lincoln's statue in Manchester.

      So there you have it.

      .

    3. As another reviewer mentioned, this book conveys the same message that David Icke's books do, that Reptilians are really in charge of this planet and keep us locked in fear for their own sustenance. I was using it as an extension for my earphones at work because all earphones seem to come with too short of a cable anymore. I have no regrets purchasing this video adapter because it allows me to expand/combine my laptop with my HDTV thereby increasing my viewing pleasures. Redisorb Liposomal Glutathione http://www.world-governance.net/glutathione-injec… My goal was to simply verify what Perry Stone had written to what the Rabbi's teach concerning Judaism. The results were much better and improved with multiple passes. Unfortunately, since most of my laundry consists of jeans, t-shirts and towels (which appears to wear the bar down faster) the Bounce Dryer Bar doesn't seem to be the most economical choice for my family. I read some reviews on this sewing machine and it doesn't seem like very hard to use. http://www.google.com/

  2. Because Americans don't respect other nation's soveriegnty, someday other nations will interfere in our country all they want to and we won't be able to do a thing about it.

    1. We overestimate our ability to determine outcomes, even if we had intervened more significantly in Syria a year ago or six months ago. I– think that caution, particularly in terms of arming these groups and in terms of U.S. military involvement, is in order.America's only free cell phone service

  3. All respect to Mr. Gates. He was right in the case of Libya and he is right again. Men and women in the Armed Forces need to listen to what Mr. Gates has to say.

    1. And haven’t we learned that when you go to war, the outcomes are unpredictable? And anybody who says, “It’s gonna be clean. It’s gonna be neat. You can establish the safe zones. And it’ll be– it’ll just be swell.” Well, most wars aren’t that way.based on her profile

    1. I– think that caution, particularly in terms of arming these groups and in terms of U.S. military involvement, is in order.more

  4. The debate over whether and how to support Syria’s “moderate opposition” should have been over long ago. For some reason, I don’t expect this latest news to stick a fork in the debate.

  5. The debate over whether and how to support Syriaa??s a??moderate oppositiona?? should have been over long ago. For some reason, I dona??t expect this latest news to stick a fork in the debate.

  6. I thought it was going to be some boring old post, but it really compensated for my time. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful St George Utah New Homes

  7. OPEN MULTIPLE URL'S WITH JUST ONE CLICK
    BEST SEO TOOL NOW YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WORRIED ABOUT OPENING VARIOUS

    URL'S WITH THE SINGLE CLICK OF YOUR MOUSE BUTTON. THE

    FAST URL OPENER CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE THIS GOAL AND

    SAVE YOU SOMETIME AND BOTHERATION OF CLICKING THE

    MOUSE KEYS AGAIN AND AGAIN.
    ENJOY THE WONDERS OF FAST URL OPENER AND SAVE TIME

    1. It’s gonna be clean. It’s gonna be neat. You can establish the safe zones. And it’ll be– it’ll just be swell.” Well, most wars aren’t that way.Youtube

  8. We offer a wide range of different types of links including; Article Marketing, Social Bookmarks, Edu and Gov backlinks as well forum profiles and blog comments. Now if you aren’t already educated about backlinks you might not understand why you need such a variety of backlinks pointing to your site visit this link

  9. Great tips and very easy to understand. This will definitely be very useful for me when I get a chance to start my blog. Thanks for this very useful info you have provided us. I will bookmark this for future reference and refer it to my friends. More power to your blog about my website

  10. Because Americans don't respect other nation's soveriegnty, someday other nations will interfere in our country all they want to and we won't be able to do a thing about it.

  11. It begins with an act of war.” And haven’t we learned that when you go to war, the outcomes are unpredictable? And anybody who says, “It’s gonna be clean. It’s gonna be neat. You can establish the safe zones. And it’ll be– it’ll just be swell.” Well, most wars aren’t that way.compared to others

  12. Good

    ''I have followed the articles with your website. If you write a lot of articles containing more followers up to date, and is large!'

  13. The debate over whether and how to support Syriaa??s a??moderate oppositiona?? should have been over long ago. For some reason, I dona??t expect this latest news to stick a fork in the debate.

  14. Eczema is a skin condition which manifests itself in skin irritation and continual itchiness. The key thing to think about here is that it can be very easy to just dismiss the above symptoms as a one time occurrence, similar to walking through a patch of poison ivy and having to deal with the continual itchiness, appearance and urge to scratch. Cypherx

Comments are closed.