political calculation Archives - The Intercept

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 18: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the White House on September 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Senate approved his plan for training and arming moderate Syrian rebels to battle Islamic State militants. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

Obama Knew Arming Rebels Was Useless, But Did It Anyway

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 18: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the White House on September 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Senate approved his plan for training and arming moderate Syrian rebels to battle Islamic State militants. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

Obama Knew Arming Rebels Was Useless, But Did It Anyway

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 18: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the White House on September 18, 2014 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Senate approved his plan for training and arming moderate Syrian rebels to battle Islamic State militants. (Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

Obama Knew Arming Rebels Was Useless, But Did It Anyway

What’s worse: Launching a disastrous military campaign under false pretenses to achieve goals you wrongly believe are attainable? Or launching a disastrous military campaign you know is doomed in order to help your party win an election? I ask in light of today’s New York Times story about how President Obama asked the CIA a […]