Syria, Aleppo, is President Obama's Legacy
Four years ago, the Assad regime was on the verge of defeat by the Free Syrian Army and others, who had decimated the Syrian Army. That left Assad with only one or two loyal divisions of troops that were under paid, lacked basic necessities, and with high desertions. Many would jump sides to help the Free Syrian Army. But, President Obama had the failed wisdom to avoid anything and then refused to act when his own Red Line was breached by Assad, who used chemical weapons. As time was went on, no-fly zones were rejected when presented by members of the U.S. Congress, Turkey refused to do anything unless NATO provided the air cover. President Obama vetoed all and any proposals because he was afraid to act.
With no action by NATO or USA (the West), Russia and Iran slowly injected themselves into the mix until they were the ones in control and openly supported President Assad of Syria against American wishes. Putin knew Obama was weak and would only impose economic sanctions, something Putin was fine with as he funneled weapons, troops, into Damascus to bolster and save Assad.
Four years ago, Damascus was like the city of Aleppo and was threatened. It was then that Obama could have made decisive action to topple Assad. Today, the situation is reversed. The last stronghold of the Free Syrian Army, Aleppo, is being decimated into ruin by ruthless Russian and Syrian artillery and air attacks. The civilian population is facing destruction. Syrian troops enter homes and fire, killing all they encounter. Women are raped with a brutality not seen since WW2. The city has been reduced to rubble with no services and hospitals are being targeted.
Because Obama failed to act years ago, the blood on his hands comes to 500,000. The genocide continues because the world is doing nothing. This ravage is what happened in the Serb area during the mid-90's until the USA entered and halted it. Then, President Clinton, was not afraid to stop the genocide Serb soldiers conducted by executing women and children. Today, most of the Syrian Army backed by Russia and Iran are Sunni. Most of the Free Syrian fighters are Shiite. In the current fighting, about 50,000 civilians have been caught in the fighting with bodies strewn all over the city. When the siege began, there were 250,000. There are less than 30 doctors in the zone and most hospitals can hardly be called that. They are more like clinics, and of those, there are less than six.
The fall of Aleppo will not end the war. It is not the pivotal battle but it will give Syria's largest city to Assad. Millions of Syrians are displaced to U.N. camps in Jordan and Turkey. All this killing might have been avoided had President Obama acted as many wanted. His reluctance has, in part, created this killing field and the blood is on his hands.
That said, what will President Trump do? While it is undetermined, he has said we have no business in Syria and will demolish ISIS. This seems to indicate what Russia wants. America will destroy ISIS, while Russia and Iran, will crush opposition to Assad in Aleppo and elsewhere. Remember, four years ago, the US position was to remove Assad and have Syria have Democratic elections. But, Obama veered way off this course by being afraid. The worse thing to fear is fear itself. Obama's inaction clearly shows the result.