THE JOYS OF PROCESS.

Over the weekend, the Assad family dynasty relinquished control of Syria to management yet to be determined.  There's a United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, who issued a perfect bit of bureaucratese.

The challenges ahead remain immense and we hear those who are anxious and apprehensive. Yet this is a moment to embrace the possibility of renewal. The resilience of the Syrian people offers a path toward a united and peaceful Syria.

To this end, the Special Envoy underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, that the Syrian institutions continue to function, and that the Syrian people are enabled to begin to chart the path to meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people and restore a unified Syria, with its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in a way that can receive the support and engagement of the entire international community.

Has there really been a united and peaceful Syria at any time since Cyrenius served as governor with the approval of Caesar?  Isn't that another chunk of the Ottoman Empire carved out after The War to End All Wars?  The process-worship, though, is what keeps the striped-pants types in work.

Mr. Pedersen urges all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society. He stresses that there must be a collective effort to secure peace and dignity for all. The Special Envoy stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future decided and shaped by the Syrian people.

Let us honor the memory of those who have suffered for decades by committing to help Syrians build a Syria where justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities. Let us stand in solidarity with Syrians to help them ensure that this new chapter is one of hope and opportunity for every Syrian.

That sounds good at Turtle Bay or in the faculty lounge, but will it change any minds on the road to Damascus?

Our President then weighed in on Sunday afternoon.

After 13 years of civil war in Syria and more than half a century of brutal authoritarian rule by Bashar Assad and his father before him, rebel forces have forced Assad to resign his office and flee the country.  We’re not sure where he is, but the- — there’s word that he’s in Moscow.

At long last, the Assad regime has fallen.  This regime brutalized and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians.

A fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice.  It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country.

It’s also a moment of risk and uncertainty.  As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risks.

You know, for years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia.  But over the last week, their support collapsed — all three of them — because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office.  And let’s remember why.

After Hamas attacked Israel on October the 7th, 2023, when much of the world responded with horror, Iran and its proxies chose to launch a multi-front war against Israel.  That was a historic mistake on Iran’s part.

Today, Iran’s main territorial proxy, Hezbollah, is also on its back.

Only 12 days ago, I spoke from the Rose Garden about the ceasefire deal in Lebanon — a deal that was only possible because Hezbollah has been badly degraded.  Meanwhile, Hamas has been da- — badly degraded as well.

Iran’s own military capabilities have been weakened.  Iran tried two times to attack Israel, and the United States and — built a coalition of countries to directly defend Israel and help defeat those attacks.

That's rich, considering that either Foggy Bottom cookie-pushers or party hacks hoping to hang onto enough Dearborn votes to carry Michigan have been urging Israel to be "proportionate" or "restrained" when what's proper is smacking the living crap out of some bad actors who really deserve it.

Then, he claims credit for events that might not have been under his control.

All this made possible for Iran and Hezbollah to continue to prop up — impossible, I should say, for them to prop up the Assad regime.

Additionally, Russia’s support for Assad also failed. And that’s because Ukraine, backed by our American allies, has put up a wall of resistance against the invading Russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the Russian forces. And that has left Russia unable to protect its main ally in the Middle East.

(Coughs.) Excuse my cold.

The upshot for all this is, for the first time ever, neither Russia nor Iran nor Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria. And this is a direct result of the blows that Ukraine, Israel have delivered upon their own self-defense with unflagging support of the United States.

And over the past four years, my administration pursued a clear, principled policy towards Syria.

First, we made clear from the start sanctions on Ira- — on Ira- — Assad would remain in place unless he engaged seriously in a political process to end the civil war, as outlined under the U.N. Security Council resolution passed in 2015. But Assad refused, so we carried out a comprehensive sanction program against him and all those responsible for atrocities against the Syrian people.

Second, we maintained our military presence in Syria. Our counter-ISIS — to counter the support of local partners as well on the ground — their partners — never ceding an inch of territory, taking out leaders of ISIS, ensuring that ISIS can never establish a safe haven there again.

Third, we’ve supported Israel’s freedom of action against Iranian networks in Syria and against actors aligned with Iran who transported lethal aid to Lebanon, and, when necessary, ordered the use of military force against Iranian networks to protect U.S. forces.

Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. Through this combination of support for our partners, sanctions, and diplomacy and targeted military force when necessary, we now see new opportunities opening up for the people of Syria and for the entire region.

As of this afternoon, it appears as though Syria's prime minister, not a member of the Assad family, is still in Damascus and working on setting up a governing coalition, and that managed response to Ukraine still looks like fighting to the last Ukrainian for regime change in Moscow.

Meanwhile, dissidents in Syria merit more protection than dissidents in the United States.

As I’ve said, this is a moment of considerable risk and uncertainty, but I also believe this is the best opportunity in generations for Syrians to forge their own future free of opposition.

It’s also an opportunity, through far from certain — though it’s far from certain, for a more secure and prosperous Middle East, where our friends are safe, where our enemies are contained. And it would be a waste of this historic opportunity if one tyrant were toppled and only a — only to see a new one rise up in its place. So, it’s now incumbent upon all the opposition groups who seek a role in governing Syria to demonstrate their commitment to the rights of all Syrians, the rule of law, and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

Just don't question the local school board or the local public health official.