Delayed action against Syria

[Misawahawk]

President Obama is asking Congress to approve a strike even though this authority is not needed. I really don't get it?

[R. Stone Jr.]

It's easy. The opposition party would like nothing more than to have Syria to hang over Obama's head. He's called their bluff. It's a political move, but, given the opposition party, a smart one.

[Kshunter]

The Obama Doctrine: American military force is justified if, and only if, absolutely NO vital American interests are at stake.

[JD Barleycorn]

Well, this sounds like it might get political. This is the sticker, according to the War Powers Act the president can commit American military resources if, an only if, the United States is under imminent threat of attack and then he must explain his actions to Congress within 48 hours AFTER contact with the enemy. This allows for quick action by the commander-in-chief. If the joint houses of Congress do not declare war then the president has 60 days to complete operations and 30 days to withdraw from combat. It is true that Obama does not need a declaration or the permission of the Congress to do air strikes but he does have to justify his actions within 48 hours.

The US Constitution requires that an act of war being preempted by a declaration of war if possible but a declaration should be voted on at the earliest opportunity (things moved much slower in the 18th century). Pragmatically a president canno successfully pursue military options without the approval of the Congress and the people.

This is all predicated on the "fact" that Assad used chemical weapons on his own people. Now there are credible voices questioning whether this is true or not. Obama put his personal prestige on the line with his "red line" statement and has cornered himself. The military should not be used with the cost of blood and money to save the reputation of any person. Did Assad use chemical weapons? He is currently winning the war against the rebels with conventional weapons. He knows the world will recoil of he uses chemical weapons. Assad knows that Obama will be forced to take some action if chemical weapons are used by him. There is every reason to think that Assad would not use chemical weapons and few reasons to think he would take that risk.

We have Obama and Kerry telling us that Assad did it but their own personal relationship with the truth leads us to question their statements. How about physical proof? So far we have nothing more than video of dying people and some swabs from victims indicating Sarin. That doesn't tell us who did it but only that it happened. The muslim brotherhood has a record of killing their own people for PR purposes in Lebanon and Syria. http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/15...errorists.html

Remember the Gulf of Tonkin resolution.

[Whizman]

peace prize winner

[dirty dog]

We have absolutely no buisness getting involved in this conflict. Its time we let people fight their own fights and stop sending money to people who hate us.

[Misawahawk]

Well this Assad guy killed kids with Sarin gas I think the world would be a better place without him. My concern is that the air strikes won't solve anything. Every time we think we are leaving the Middle East we get drawn back in.

[Whizman]

Originally Posted by Misawahawk

Well this Assad guy killed kids with Sarin gas I think the world would be a better place without him. My concern is that the air strikes won't solve anything. Every time we think we are leaving the Middle East we get drawn back in.

Its a no win situation for us ...

[bigryan222]

There are all sorts of problems with Syria. It will be a no win situation for a long time. While I think Assad is a dirtbag, the rebels certainly can not be trusted. The rebels were caught with sarin gas before so it is plausible that they did it themselves.

[dirty dog]

Originally Posted by Misawahawk

Well this Assad guy killed kids with Sarin gas I think the world would be a better place without him. My concern is that the air strikes won't solve anything. Every time we think we are leaving the Middle East we get drawn back in.

So what, why does it always fall upon the US to fix this bullshit, where is china and russia, England doesnt even want to get involved. Frankly, I would like some independent sources to provide information that gas was actually used. I dont trust this government to be truthful, remember WMD's. We get drawn back in because we allow ourselves to be drawn in, I say fuck em, let someone else worry about them and deal with this. No matter what we do we will be hated anyway, so why waste the time or money.,

[royamcr]

That's where it gets tricky. Russia and Syria are close allies and trade partners. Iran is also watching, cause if Syria can get away with a few things then you bet Iran is gonna want to see how much further they can push things.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...rassed-to-ask/

An interesting read there.

[Misawahawk]

I don't care if people are behind Obama or not. He said Syria would cross a red line if they used chemical weapons. It will down play the office of the President if Congress doesn't get behind the strikes. At some point in time we are going to have to give up on saving the world. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[dirty dog]

Originally Posted by Misawahawk

I don't care if people are behind Obama or not. He said Syria would cross a red line if they used chemical weapons. It will down play the office of the President if Congress doesn't get behind the strikes. At some point in time we are going to have to give up on saving the world. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

I don't care who the president is, we have no business there. There is no threat to this country, no more beautiful young Americans need to die for this shit hole of the world. I am getting tired of hearing this crap "their dying for our freedom", our freedom has not been at stake since WW2. We are sending these young Americans to die in the name of nation building and oil.

[royamcr]

Ya, that civil war in particular sounds so stupid. It isn't a North Vs south thing. You have a corrupt government, then the rebels... but the rebels are so spread out and have no clear chain of command so they are impossible to help or try to talk peace. You would end up with Assad and then some goat farmers with guns trying to work out a deal. lol I'm with saying fuck it all too on this one. I think some of these countries are acting up now because they know the US is war weary, financially drained and we don't really want to get involved in another one.

[PounderofBox]

Originally Posted by dirty dog

I don't care who the president is, we have no business there. There is no threat to this country, no more beautiful young Americans need to die for this shit hole of the world. I am getting tired of hearing this crap "their dying for our freedom", our freedom has not been at stake since WW2. We are sending these young Americans to die in the name of nation building and oil.

Funny you say that. Was our freedom at stake say when Hitler Invaded Poland? America Has learned harsh lessons in the past from not getting involved In world affairs. On the flip we have paid the price for getting involved (Vietnam) but America must protect it's interests at home and abroad. And taking the moral high ground here doesn't it fall to the strong to protect the weak? If what they say is true that they are using chemical weapons on their own people then doesn't it fall to someone to protect them? We just happen to be the biggest kid on the block that's all.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Love how people think these words only apply to americans. B4 you respond know I am a combat vet I served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.