Michael Bowman reports for Global Security that hours before Obama was to address the nation last night on the need to confront Syria’s use of chemical weapons, he already knew Congress would not be voting to approve his proposed “military attack” on Syria.
That’s because he had met with senators of both major political parties on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers emerged from that meeting saying a vote authorizing the use of force against Syria is unlikely for now, and any final resolution will take into account international diplomatic developments, i.e., the Assad regime’s agreeing to surrender its chemical weapons to international control and dismantling.
Obama had little to say after meeting separately with Democratic and Republican senators, other than “It was a good conversation. Thank you very much.”
Late Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid already had to postpone a vote on a resolution authorizing the use of force against Syria, although the measure was approved last week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Reid now concedes that “If something can be done diplomatically, I am totally satisfied with that.”
Even the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s top Republican, warmonger Senator Bob Corker, who had helped craft the resolution, now says it is on hold: “I would be very surprised to see any vote on the Senate floor in the short term. I think our best course of action is to pause, to understand whether this [Russian proposal] is credible or not.” (See “Senators who voted for Syrian war got more defense industry $”
At the same time, warmonger Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told a House panel that “for this diplomatic option to have a chance at succeeding, the credible, real threat of U.S. military action must continue.” Warmonger Sen. Corker agrees: “The authorization of military force absolutely needs to remain on the table. Otherwise I do not think these negotiations will go anywhere.”
Polls show Americans overwhelmingly oppose military intervention in Syria, a fact that has weighed heavily on congressional deliberations to date.
Conclusion:
Obama and his entire administration are an embarrassment to the American people.
My friend Jay Gaskill, Esq. puts it the best:
Obama’s rules of engagement — “Bully like a flea. Sting like a butterfly.”
~Eowyn