On August 21, 2013, the Assad regime used chemical weapons against civilians in Syria. Back then, President Barack Obama said this attack crossed the “red line.” He was about to carry out an attack against the Syrian regime but he preferred to attain Congress’ approval.
The idea was soon abandoned and Obama went back to his ordinary weakness. The entire world became lazy. Everyone was overwhelmed by unprecedented frustration because America is the leader of the world, the greatest power and the most capable at facing challenges which societies may confront. There’s no international system without the US and the value of policies and alliances diminish without its role.
Donald Trump is the opposite of Obama. He makes less statements and less threats but his decisions are effective. He is fearless and defiant. He took the Assad regime by surprise at dawn and destroyed al-Shayrat air base from where the recent chemical attack was launched.
Donald Trump is the opposite of Obama. He makes less statements and less threats but his decisions are effective.
Turki Aldakhil
The difference between the two administrations is that the former administration does not reflect America’s power and greatness while the current administration represents a United States which intervenes to protect communities from bloody massacres.
This article was first published in Okaz on April 9, 2016.
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Turki Aldakhil is the General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel. He began his career as a print journalist, covering politics and culture for the Saudi newspapers Okaz, Al-Riyadh and Al-Watan. He then moved to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat and pan-Arab news magazine Al-Majalla. Turki later became a radio correspondent for the French-owned pan-Arab Radio Monte Carlo and MBC FM. He proceeded to Elaph, an online news magazine and Alarabiya.net, the news channel’s online platform. Over a ten-year period, Dakhil’s weekly Al Arabiya talk show “Edaat” (Spotlights) provided an opportunity for proponents of Arab and Islamic social reform to make their case to a mass audience. Turki also owns Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre and Madarek Publishing House in Dubai. He has received several awards and honors, including the America Abroad Media annual award for his role in supporting civil society, human rights and advancing women’s roles in Gulf societies. He tweets @TurkiAldakhil.
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