American logic when dealing with Syria was steeped in the idealism of America's vision of itself — that of an enlightened, benevolent nation, brilliant enough to resolve any grim situation and tie up all loose ends with a pretty bow.
Graduates from American universities know nothing about the world. They don't even know that America is not just Harvard, financial institutions and baseball.
When Kerry took up his post, he seemed perfectly prepared for the role of chief diplomat, although his opponents already spoke with irony that his experience is — above all — theoretical.