Very Sad, But Very True — and Very Scary

From “How Iran, Putin and Assad Outwitted America,” David Keyes, The Daily Beast:

“Historians will look back at the present moment with astonishment that Iran so skillfully outwitted the West.  They will note the breathtaking naivete of American and European officials who let a brutal theocracy undermine Western interests throughout the Middle East.  At one of Iran’s most vulnerable moments, America threw the mullahs a life-line; an ill-conceived nuclear deal coupled with a complete inability to stop Syria, Iran’s closest ally, from continuing to slaughter en masse. …

“[Iranian foreign minister Mohamed] Zarif’s mission to Moscow quells any lingering hopes that Russia can be seduced away from Syria or Iran.  Putin has made a simple calculation:  Assad will protect his interests better than anyone.  Russia, in turn, has made it clear that it will prop up Syria’s tyrant and their Iranian backers at almost any cost. …

“Iran, Syria and Russia appear to be the strong horses of the Middle East.  Assad slaughters with impunity because he knows that no one will actually stop him.  Russia knows it can get away with backing Syria and Iran, because who is ready to pay the price to stop it? …

“It is no surprise that Iran’s mullahs are gloating that they outwitted the West with the recent nuclear deal.  They did.  Our sincere and overwhelming desire for peace clouded a sober reading of Iran’s intentions. …

“In this Middle Eastern proxy war, it often seems that only one side is actually fighting.  Russia is pouring massive sums of money and arms into Syria to prop up Assad. …”

I know we’re all enthralled by Christie’s bad motives in closing down those lanes, but the big story is Obama’s good intentions in paving this road to Hell.