Syria’s Pink Line & Iran’s Nuclear Program

In August 2011, President Obama called on Syrian President Assad “to step aside.” It was one year ago, in March 2012, that Secretary of State Clinton said it was only “a matter of time” before the Assad regime fell. At the beginning of this year, the United Nations estimated more than 60,000 people had died so far in this Syrian conflict.

In diplomatic practice, drawing a “red line” is similar to drawing a line in the sand. Crossing that line—engaging in that behavior, as it were—is unacceptable and cannot be done without consequence.

A red line drawn without consequences for crossing it makes the red line meaningless. In fact, it can be affirmatively harmful to U.S. national security.

Implications for Iran’s Nuclear Program

President Obama has drawn a “red line” that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. It is hard to imagine how Iran would be deterred from crossing that red line if Syria is allowed to cross the red line against chemical weapons without consequence. President Obama must respond appropriately so that the red line Syria has crossed does not begin to look like a pink line, or worse, no line at all. Nothing less than the credibility of the United States is on the line.