Pres. Obama's Plan for the Near East

Nearly every commentator on international politics has weighed in on the question of how to rid Syria and Iraq of the apparently Sunni-sponsored terrorists, so here's my two cents!

I think President Obama's plan is excellent; and if it does succeed, he really will firm up his claim to being a Great US President! 

That said, I want to stress that the US ought not to take sides (any longer!) in the Sunni-Shite civil war in Iraq.  As is well known and was exactly predicted, Iran has taken control of the politics in Southern Iraq.  I think areas in northern Iraq should remain in the hands of the Kurds, but I also think that the rest of northern Iraq should be controlled by the Sunnis.  How this is possible when the Bagdad government is Shite dominated, I don't know.  It can be readily fixed, no doubt.

The important point I wish to emphasize is that the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff must be in charge.  This is a very delicate position for the US to maintain: no boots on the ground and ultimately, a diplomatic resolution to the Syrian-Iraq upheavals once the terrorists are brought under check.  The US never abandoned its concerns for the well-being of Syria. 

P.S.  There's been little news, but how is the Taliban areas of Afghanistan being brought into the Kabul government--whose control of Afghanistan is to Kabul's city limits!