Salman Shaikh <\/p>\n The Obama administration has no real joined strategy or vision (as Dan points out) for Syria. Mike is right of course in asking how it can ensure its painfully limited national security goals. The administration has to understand that you cannot contain the effects of the Syria crisis, you have to work to resolve it. In particular, containing regional spillover is becoming harder and harder by the day. Syria and its neighborhood are not only facing a devastating humanitarian catastrophe, but an alarming resurgence of civil strife and the growing threat of terrorism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The administration\u2019s apparent answer\u2014to fortify Jordan by deploying extra U.S. troops and military hardware\u2014while needed, will not protect Jordan from the asymmetrical terror threat of extremism, whether jihadist or that initiated by the Assad regime. Rising sectarian conflict and the effect of paralysed and broken political systems in Lebanon and Iraq will likely embroil rather than insulate both countries armed forces. To think that increased U.S. technical support and hardware to these institutions can save the day, as the administration is reportedly working on, is wishful thinking. In Lebanon today, there is another political storm brewing among its leaders, this time about the decision to extend the term of the General Khawiji, the chief of staff of the Lebanese Army. In Iraq, 1.045\u00a0civilians and security personnel were killed\u00a0only in May\u2014the highest monthly death toll in years. And there is no end in sight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the effects of this crises spiral out of control, it is likely that the Obama administration will have to get involved in the end, just in a much heavier (and potentially more damaging) way.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
\n<\/strong><\/a>Director, Brookings Doha Center<\/a>,\u00a0Fellow, Foreign Policy Program,\u00a0Saban Center for Middle East Policy<\/p>\n
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