Since I didn't have much else to do, I watched just about every program that mentioned Syria. You'd be surprised how many armchair generals (pundits) know exactly what needs to be done and how it will turn out.
I was very disappointed in the media coverage, especially Meet the Press with David Gregory. It seemed like David was more interested in Obama's change of mind and its effect on his aide's feelings, than he was on the final decision. I expected that from Chris Wallace, and I was not disappointed. Chris Wallace asked John Kerry if it was appropriate for the Pres. to take VP Joe Biden golfing after decision was made. Here's my take on the golf outing: VP Joe Biden has been under a lot of stress lately concerning his son's recent illness and the weight of the worlds problems; a relaxing golf outing where the two leaders could relax makes a lot of sense to me.
The media correctly stated that the shadow of the Iraq War looms large in the decision making of this president and for those of our allies.
The president's. enemies said his Indecisive actions makes him look weak to our friends and foes. I disagree,President Obama is a deliberate person and not one to make a hasty decision. Besides,he's the Commander- in -Chief of the world's mightiest ,most advance military,so how could he possibly be weak? The British Parliament made a hastily decision to come back to vote without the full body and we saw the results. Who knows how many world leader's minds will be changed while we await our Congress to debate? Our military got to see the Syrian response when they thought they were going to get shelled. The Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Dempsey told the president that the same fixed targets would be there tomorrow or next month.
The president reminded those who call him a dictator that we have a "Constitutional Democracy" and now is the time to utilize that responsibility. Many of the president's detractors say he has weaken the special war powers of the president forever. I think it was a brilliant move, because those who usually sit on the sideline and throw verbal bombs will now have to cast a vote stating what they'll do in a similar situation. Many of those legislators will hear what they said in 2001 prior to the Iraq War.The Tea Party member who thought they were only sent to Washington to cut taxes,spending and defund Obamacare will have a rude awakening beginning September 9,2013.
Yesterdy,on Meet the Press,Bill Kristol took the first step in mending fence ,by admitting that Bush 41 made several mistakes prior to liberating the people of Kuwait in 1991. He went on to say that last weeks missteps by the Obama Administration won't amount to anything.
Accountability is what's missing these days. All of the Democratic candidates for president in 2008 had to admit that their vote for the Iraq War was a mistake. Hillary Clinton says she was mislead but that was not enough and that's the reason she lost. The GOP will not admit their mistakes ;be it the Iraq War or the 2008 financial crisis; they won't even admit that Obama legitimately won the 2008 and 2012 elections.The fact that they are a leaderless party may be a big reason for that.
No question,the country is war weary because half of the Syrian rebels have extremist Islamic ties and they are fighting a ruthless dictator.It's foolish to take sides in a civil war that will go on for decades.On the other hand, can we sit idly as a ruthless dictator uses chemical weapons on innocent children and civilians?The president has been criticized for issuing his "Red Line" statement but can you name one American president who would not have done the same?