Did Hagel and Kerry scotch the Syrian regime change operation?

[karynnj]

11. Thank you for posting it -

I think it is good to have a wide range of articles posted here - or on DU general discussion. It is perhaps safest here because we have always put up to discuss anything related to Kerry - including things that distorted his positions - the better to defend him. That article is not like that and it is clear that it is partly conjecture as it written as such. I suspect that on most diplomatic efforts nothing is EVER 100% as it appears in public and it is only years later that we MAYBE get various accounts of what happened.

Syria is a very very difficult issue and there appear to be a huge number of very bad choices. It is less clear there are any good choices. It is also likely that the effort to improve the Middle east situation would be helped if Syria was not in chaos.

I agree with your interpretation, but would add that President Obama is known to have rejected the request of Hillary Clinton and Petraeus to arm the rebels. Kerry, throughout his nomination hearing always spoke of hoping for a diplomatic solution - most telling when given as an answer to the question of whether he would favor arming the rebels.