(CNN) -- The likely failure of Friday's Geneva 2 conference to produce a credible political process to end Syria's civil war points up the painfully obvious: Syria -- a conflict seemingly without end -- is a moral, humanitarian and strategic tragedy. But it is neither an American tragedy nor the Obama administration's fault nor responsibility. This does not mean the United States is free to ignore the Syrian conflict; nor that its continuation doesn't negatively affect American interests. What it does mean is that the President's risk-averse policy -- containment, humanitarian assistance, helping to organize and supply certain rebel groups, and keeping open the possibility of a political track -- is absolutely right. The administration should continue to ignore its critics' call for a more assertive policy, particularly if after a failed Geneva conference, there are calls for military action. Here's why:
@highlight
Aaron Miller: Even if Geneva talks fail, U.S. shouldn't intervene in Syria conflict
@highlight
Syria is a tragedy but Obama has followed the right course, Miller says
@highlight
He says president has rightly concluded that U.S. can't resolve the conflict
@highlight
Miller: Preventing a war over Iran's nuclear program is a higher priority for U.S.
American
United States
American
U.S.
U.S.
U.S.
The notion that @placeholder can now intercede -- or at any point in the past three years, could have intervened -- in a way that would have stabilized the situation, let alone put Syria back together in some new form, is an illusion.
Obama
Obama
And nobody in the administration, least of all @placeholder, was prepared to embark on such an open-ended military campaign (for which the American people have shown no appetite).
American
United States
American
U.S.
U.S.
U.S.
And nobody in the administration, least of all Obama, was prepared to embark on such an open-ended military campaign (for which the @placeholder people have shown no appetite).
Geneva 2
Geneva
Geneva
President Obama was right to resist the use of force and will be right again, if in the wake of @placeholder's failure there is more talk of resorting to force.
Syria
Syria
Syrian
Syria
Syria
There's no evidence to support this, but I have a strong suspicion that the decision not to respond to @placeholder's use of chemical weapons with military force was partly shaped by this calculation, particularly the possibility that U.S. military action might have killed Iranian forces in Syria, or to be sure increased not ameliorated tensions at a time the administration was already involved in secret talks with the mullahs who control Iran.
Iran
There's no evidence to support this, but I have a strong suspicion that the decision not to respond to Syria's use of chemical weapons with military force was partly shaped by this calculation, particularly the possibility that U.S. military action might have killed @placeholder forces in Syria, or to be sure increased not ameliorated tensions at a time the administration was already involved in secret talks with the mullahs who control Iran.
Iran
There's no evidence to support this, but I have a strong suspicion that the decision not to respond to Syria's use of chemical weapons with military force was partly shaped by this calculation, particularly the possibility that U.S. military action might have killed Iranian forces in Syria, or to be sure increased not ameliorated tensions at a time the administration was already involved in secret talks with the mullahs who control @placeholder.
American
United States
American
U.S.
U.S.
U.S.
@placeholder has been more active than any other nation in providing humanitarian assistance and helping organize the Syrian opposition.