[smoothy]

Congress should have already been engaged with a debate and ready to act, or at least have an outline to a plan. They have known for 3 months somebody was gassing people in Syria.

They have been fighting in Syria a lot longer, so why hasn't the Congress been doing its job and be ready for whatever.

Congress hasn't been threatening to commit an overt act of war... in a country we have no compelling interest in.

After all the Democrats spent 8 years argueing under Bush that we aren't the worlds policemen...

[talaniman]

Bush sent a lot of troops to Iraq. Obama says NO troops. Just bombs and thing that go boom. To be honest I'm not sold on getting involved with a Syrian civil war, but if they use gas, no doubt others will to, so its COMPLEXED.

But as part of a greater coalition, like more Arabs from the region, that would add weight to any actions we could take. Alone, NO!!

[smoothy]

Bush sent a lot of troops to Iraq. Obama says NO troops.

Iraq was violating a cease fire agreement they had with us...

I know the concept of what a cease fire agreement is, is a bit much for Democrats to grasp... but we have one in Korea too... and have since the 1950's.


What business exactly do we have with Syria anyway... who exactly declared the USA was the Worlds policemen... and what right does Obama have to decare war on a country that has done nothing to us or one of our allies yet.

[Wondergirl]

What business exactly do we have with Syria anyway....who exactly declared the USA was the Worlds policemen......and what right does Obama have to decare war on a country that has done nothing to us or one of our allies yet.

And if we create a vacuum by helping to remove Assad, what will fill that vacuum?

Do we ignore the deaths of innocent civilians and let these countries work out their own problems?

[smoothy]

And if we create a vacuum by helping to remove Assad, what will fill that vacuum?

Do we ignore the deaths of innocent civilians and let these countries work out their own problems?

Syria is full of degenerates that hate us uanyway... let them kill themselves... if anyone does anything it should be to keep Hezbollah and Iran from sticking their noses into it.

[talaniman]

He isn't asking for WAR, he is asking for but a clear message against the use of gas. Banned in the civilized world since WWI.

[talaniman]

Syria is full of degenerates that hate us uanyway...let them kill themselves....if anyone does anything it should be to keep Hezbollah and Iran from sticking their noses into it.

Where have you been for two years? They already have their nose in it.

[smoothy]

He isn't asking for WAR, he is asking for but a clear message against the use of gas. Banned in the civilized world since WWI.

Sending a bunch of missles into someone else's country to blow things up is by anyone's definition... including the United Nations... an act of war.

[speechlesstx]

He isn't asking for WAR, he is asking for but a clear message against the use of gas. Banned in the civilized world since WWI.

Actually, I believe he's just trying to cover his arse.

One U.S. official who has been briefed on the options on Syria said he believed the White House would seek a level of intensity "just muscular enough not to get mocked" but not so devastating that it would prompt a response from Syrian allies Iran and Russia.

"They are looking at what is just enough to mean something, just enough to be more than symbolic," he said.

I think he's already made a mockery of us.

[talaniman]

Sending a bunch of missles into someone elses country to blow things up is by anyones definition...including the United Nations...an act of war.

Yes and there could be retaliation, but there has already been a fallout that has displaced millions across the region, into neighboring countries. What do you need a map or something? The whole region is at war already.

[smoothy]

Yes and there could be retaliation, but there has already been a fallout that has displaced millions across the region, into neighboring countries. What do you need a map or something? The whole region is at war already.

I couldn't care less if the entire country of Syria ends up dead... in fact I hope for it... its their problem... not ours at this point.

If they start lobbing chemical weapons across any of the borders then that would change. Right now its an internal problem.

[speechlesstx]

Yes and there could be retaliation, but there has already been a fallout that has displaced millions across the region, into neighboring countries. What do you need a map or something? The whole region is at war already.

And exactly how does just enough of a response to "not get mocked" help those millions?

[talaniman]

Actually, I believe he's just trying to cover his arse.



I think he's already made a mockery of us.

I guess if he went Cowboy like Bush did that would make you happy, and being pragmatic and having consensus and support more broadly isn't something you could support or consider.

Seeing as no action, just debate is what's going on, globally not just here, then your assertion, and that of your pundit you cited is decidedly misleading.

[tomder55]

And if we create a vacuum by helping to remove Assad, what will fill that vacuum?

Do we ignore the deaths of innocent civilians and let these countries work out their own problems?

Will toppling Assad end the carnage ? More likely the Allawites will be the subject of ethnic cleansing that will make the cw attack pale in comparison.

[talaniman]

And exactly how does just enough of a response to "not get mocked" help those millions?

We have done our share of humanitarian aid, and more is needed, as the numbers continue to grow. What do YOU suggest?

[tomder55]

He isn't asking for WAR, he is asking for but a clear message against the use of gas. Banned in the civilized world since WWI.

A technicallity is that Syria is not a signatory. His message will most likely kill more Syrians than the cw attack . And he still has no proof ;despite his statement last night ,that it was forces in Assad's control that launched the attack.

[speechlesstx]

I guess if he went Cowboy like Bush did that would make you happy, and being pragmatic and having consensus and support more broadly isn't something you could support or consider.

Seeing as no action, just debate is what's going on, globally not just here, then your assertion, and that of your pundit you cited is decidedly misleading.

You mistake me for someone clamoring for war, and certainly not given who the CIC is and his performance thus far.

What's ironic is how the tables have turned. You guys sure do think we've forgotten the Bush years and how things went down. Your version of history is rather creative. It was Bush who went directly to the American people and spelled out what our interests were in both Afghanistan and Iraq. It was Bush that went to the UN and made a case for action, and Bush that sought and received congressional authorization.

Which of these has Obama done?

P.S. I did not cite a 'pundit,' it was a "U.S. official."

One U.S. official who has been briefed on the options on Syria said he believed the White House would seek a level of intensity "just muscular enough not to get mocked"

[tomder55]

So why aren't the anti-war protesters coming out in droves? It's the economy...



I guess belligerent is in the eye of the beholder. I can guarantee if it were a Republican starting his third war they'd find the money for poster board and magic markers.

[talaniman]

An unnamed US official is a credible source? Naw he is no more than a pundits assistant. I think I join Tom on this one and want proof of WHO used gas. But if Russia and China are found to be backing a dictator that did used chemical weapons, that's a whole different ball of wax in my view.

I would be equally pissed if it was found the rebels were killing innocents with gas to draw the rest of the world into this. The rebel factions are carving up their own parts of the country to control, And I think we gear up and plan before we pick our targets. If it was Assad, yes I would send a force full message (Missiles and air strikes at military targets) and rail on Russia and China in the UN, and in public.

I think it's their inaction that has allowed this cancer to fester and grow in the first place.

[excon]

Hello again,

I think it's their inaction that has allowed this cancer to fester and grow in the first place.

I agree that Obama has NO Middle East policy. That's troublesome.

But, in his defense, how COULD you have a policy when everything changes in the blink of an eye?

Excon