John Yoo on Syria and the UN.
As Iran closes in on its nuclear prize and props up Assadâ??s bloody regime in Syria, the United States has the opportunity to deal a crippling blow to its oldest, most dangerous enemy in the region. U.S. military strikes could topple Tehranâ??s close allies in Damascus and destroy the mullahsâ?? nuclear infrastructure, potentially ushering in more democratic regimes that would be at peace with their neighbors. - John Yoo
Seems like "potentially" is doing an awful lot of work in that formulation.
Rosy scenarios aside, the bulk of Yoo's piece is devoted to arguing that Mitt Romney can helpfully draw a contrast between an administration that defers military action to UN authorization or one that unilaterally starts a war with both Syria and Iran. I think it both overstates the extent to which Romney would start a war with Syria and understates the possibility that the Obama administration would take military force against Iran, should push come to shove. As a bit of political salesmanship though, "vote for me and I'll start not one, but two more wars in the Mideast" sounds like a tough sell.
