I assume he will face consequences over Syria right after he finishes dealing with the consequences over Libya.
Clinton set the modern precedent with Kosovo.
The legal basis is humanitarian grounds channeled through our UN treaty obligations, eg, R2P. The duty to follow through on operational treaties fall on the Executive, not the Legislature. Of course, our UN treaty is open ended and based on international law, which is soft and gray.
Not from Congress no but perhaps the question of potential consequence is not so easily dismissed.
What will be the consequences for Obama, if this ‘carefully calibrated’ strike goes seriously awry? Say an American pilot is shot down and captured?
Syria does have Russian anti-aircraft missile technology. They could get ‘lucky’ and down one or more of our planes.
If we attack Syria and they shoot down some of our planes, would we not be in a state of war with Syria? What happens if Iran, Syria’s ally then declares war on the US? What if Russia and China once again declare military support for Iran?
The political repercussions for Obama and the democrats in 2014 are potentially severe. Launching strikes without either congressional or UN approval, that only 9% of the public agree with is problematic. Having to beg Assad to return our captured pilot could be disastrous for Obama because it would make him look like another ineffectual Carter. democrats would be painted with the same broad brush as Obama is, without question their leader.
There’s little doubt that Obama is doing this out of overweening pride, to avoid liberal criticism that his fragile ego cannot take.
Obama may yet learn of what the ancients knew; “Pride goeth before the fall” There’s potentially real risk for Obama in a unilateral attack upon Syria.
Yes – if he loses in the court of public opinion.
He is already lower than a sewer rat. If Syria backfires on him he loses all ability to govern.
A defeat for Obama is a victory for America in the long run. Sad, but true.
Apropos of this topic. Michael Ramirez also weighs in:
Let’s not underestimate the ribbing he will get from John Stewart and David Letterman when he hits the talk show circuit to kid around about it.
Deciding to do something about a guy who kills 300 of his own people with chemical weapons, as opposed to using guns and bombs to kill thousands of his own people. There’s gotta be a joke somewhere in that. I’ll leave it to the professionals to come up with something.
Geoffrey,
It is a haughty spirit that goes before a fall, and Mr. Obama qualifies on that score as well. Pride goeth before destruction. Let us hope that ancient wisdom doesn’t come back to haunt us.
If a Democrat uses non democratic totalitarian powers, do America censure them the way people expect Muslims to speak up against terror?
Nope.
Next question: Will they give him another Noble Prize for being “heroic” by bombing Syria?
Barack Obama is immune from everything. The economy, race relations, gas prices, unemployment, foreign policy, Libya, immigration.
Everything.
He’s Black and liberal.
No impeachment. No re-election.
Get over it.
Back to Blood.
More accurately it isn’t Obama, but the Left’s messiah and Hero Priest King. The Left will replace one messiah after another, until you are all dead lined up on crucifixes by the side of every highway in America. Such is the nature of a theology that doesn’t tolerate rebels or heretics
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I assume he will face consequences over Syria right after he finishes dealing with the consequences over Libya.
Clinton set the modern precedent with Kosovo.
The legal basis is humanitarian grounds channeled through our UN treaty obligations, eg, R2P. The duty to follow through on operational treaties fall on the Executive, not the Legislature. Of course, our UN treaty is open ended and based on international law, which is soft and gray.
Not from Congress no but perhaps the question of potential consequence is not so easily dismissed.
What will be the consequences for Obama, if this ‘carefully calibrated’ strike goes seriously awry? Say an American pilot is shot down and captured?
Syria does have Russian anti-aircraft missile technology. They could get ‘lucky’ and down one or more of our planes.
If we attack Syria and they shoot down some of our planes, would we not be in a state of war with Syria? What happens if Iran, Syria’s ally then declares war on the US? What if Russia and China once again declare military support for Iran?
The political repercussions for Obama and the democrats in 2014 are potentially severe. Launching strikes without either congressional or UN approval, that only 9% of the public agree with is problematic. Having to beg Assad to return our captured pilot could be disastrous for Obama because it would make him look like another ineffectual Carter. democrats would be painted with the same broad brush as Obama is, without question their leader.
There’s little doubt that Obama is doing this out of overweening pride, to avoid liberal criticism that his fragile ego cannot take.
Obama may yet learn of what the ancients knew; “Pride goeth before the fall” There’s potentially real risk for Obama in a unilateral attack upon Syria.
Yes – if he loses in the court of public opinion.
He is already lower than a sewer rat. If Syria backfires on him he loses all ability to govern.
A defeat for Obama is a victory for America in the long run. Sad, but true.
Apropos of this topic. Michael Ramirez also weighs in:
http://news.investors.com/photopopup.aspx?id=668795
Let’s not underestimate the ribbing he will get from John Stewart and David Letterman when he hits the talk show circuit to kid around about it.
Deciding to do something about a guy who kills 300 of his own people with chemical weapons, as opposed to using guns and bombs to kill thousands of his own people. There’s gotta be a joke somewhere in that. I’ll leave it to the professionals to come up with something.
Geoffrey,
It is a haughty spirit that goes before a fall, and Mr. Obama qualifies on that score as well. Pride goeth before destruction. Let us hope that ancient wisdom doesn’t come back to haunt us.
If a Democrat uses non democratic totalitarian powers, do America censure them the way people expect Muslims to speak up against terror?
Nope.
Next question: Will they give him another Noble Prize for being “heroic” by bombing Syria?
Barack Obama is immune from everything. The economy, race relations, gas prices, unemployment, foreign policy, Libya, immigration.
Everything.
He’s Black and liberal.
No impeachment. No re-election.
Get over it.
Back to Blood.
More accurately it isn’t Obama, but the Left’s messiah and Hero Priest King. The Left will replace one messiah after another, until you are all dead lined up on crucifixes by the side of every highway in America. Such is the nature of a theology that doesn’t tolerate rebels or heretics