I have been on the fence with this - torn between my emotional heartache for those being sacrificed and is it any of our business. I am now settled with my belief that there are too many unknowns in this situation for us to get involved without the support of the rest of the world. This is not our battle - if anyone needs to be punished for using chemical weapons it should be done by the world community not the US.

As far as our credibility - it's already shot. The minute the President drew that red line (which he did draw - not the world community that he claims) and didn't cross it when he had the proof he was waiting for it showed weakness. Today I am glad he waited because as more information comes out we really don't know who is fighting who in Syria. Our credibility has degraded since he has been in office with no clear foreign policy and this could be seen as the straw that breaks the camels back. Had he not drawn the red line to begin with (hindsight is 20/20) this would probably be a different ball game right now.

I pray for the safety of our county and the restoration of respectability to the office of The President of the United States.

in the face of the congress leaning away from support, the American people overwhelmingly do not support, the UN does not support and the International community at large does not support, just what rationale can Obama contrive to go it alone?

The politics would suggest do not attack Syria. So the only reason he would in light of the above? Personal?......for what?

btk

Just moments ago at his press conference the President said he has a good feeling what the American people want - so I guess that means no war???

Q: For what?

A: Diversion.

We haven't heard a word in the U.S. media about the bloodbath and chaos in Egypt since this Syrian mess rose to the top of the headlines. Egypt cannot have suddenly become a sanctuary of peace and tranquility. News of our involvement there was coming out as bungled and flip floppy. Same thing with what we were really doing in Benghazi. This decision by us on attacking Syria is a chance to look decisive and transparent.

Remember the 1980-1988 Iraq Iran war? Do the research about how the US gave the ingredients for chemical and bio WMD to Iraq and helped to target Iranian forces. When Saddam Insane used them on the Kurds, we did nothing. Yes, you can say that happened 30 plus years ago and America is now morally stronger. LOL. With 100K already dead in Syria, we now feel we need to launch a strike because 1400 people were killed by a gas attack?
While we always point out that Russia and China put the kabash on every humane thing we want to do, notice their defense spending against their GDP.
We need to fix America before we try to fix a world that does not want to be fixed. Especially by us.
Peru is more of a threat to our security with it's counterfeiting than Syria. Are we going to "put one across Peru's bow"?

I sincerely hope you are wrong.

A lot pointing to the political games here, but I am going to ignore that for the time being. My problem now is that the President is making it worse, in my opinion. He now talks as if he was always coming to congress and everybody including his shocked staff knows that is not so. He talks as if the "red line" is not his...he did not do that. If they do not pass and he starts to blame congress for inaction, and if they do pass, and it backfires and he blames congress....deal is sealed then.

BUT....and those who have been on here for awhile know this hurts...but for now I will give him the benefit of the doubt on this.

I hope I'm wrong, for the sake of our troops and families, all of us, and the President and his family. Iran is more insane than usual today in the headlines (See Drudge). It's horrific and I don't want to even think about it.

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our only hope and he's waiting for our prayers.

It didn't take the British this long to make up their minds. Why is it so hard to get a vote up or down on any issue in our Congress? To answer my own question---because they (career Politicans) are always running a re-election campaign. Oh, for term limits!

I believe there is overwhelming response by constituent calls to their senators and congressmen..like 100 to one AGAINST going to war from what I heard from my senator up north.
After thinking about this quite a bit, even though my heart absolutely breaks for the innocents, and let's face it, it is the innocents who are affected by those few in power, until America stops being the international police, the rest of the world will not put themselves on the line. They just wait for the USA to jump in and let the USA take the heat. Time to back off, take care of our problems at home with our own, and let the rest of the world adjust to a new role in international citizenship. I assume initially some will see it as a victory and that the US is now weak, but on the flip side, our "allies" will recognize we aren't going to be the default anymore and they are going to have to pony up going forward.

I very much agree. Everybody knows we have the power, now it is time to let someone else take the reigns.

Well put!

Another reason is their August recess isn't over until September 9, and Speaker Boehner elected not to call them back for a special session. When the House of Representatives returns to work on Monday they will work a grand total of nine days in September, then go on another recess.

The Presiden shocked even his own advisors when he abruptly changed his mind while on a walk Friday afternoon...that was LAST FRIDAY.

Committee meetings held this week in both chambers....Not sure how they could have been convened and finished quicker....they had to be done. If there was a quicker way.....please advise.

So, here we are less than a week since he made the decision, about 6 days since he publicly announced this decision. Committee meetings are over and the President was out of town all of that time (not blaming him..just pointing it out that HE is one who wants this and HE was not available to talk to anyone)..

Please advise on how this could have been done quicker !!!!!!

Congress is just a part of the problem....even with the leaders in 24 hours or so supporting him. Pretty quickly.

"DAVID AXELROD said on "Morning Joe" that Obama has to “make the case” to the American people on Syria and do it on “as big a stage as possible. ... The president needs to make the case and give them the arguments and the cover, frankly, for a yes vote, and that’s very, very important." --Tal Kopan"

POLITICO Playbook - POLITICO.com

To those of you who are still thinking POLITICALLY.....President versus house...Democrat versus Republican, etc.....which would be the ONLY reason for the post I am replying to....THIS IS NOT POLITICAL, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU TRY. This is not about bashing the President as some of the political hacks think.

The congress has been pretty bi partisan in NOT being partisan on this. This has nothing to do with any timing...who is on vacation or who is not.....it is much to serious for the political rantings.

Please explain how what is done could have been done quicker under the circumstances. You do understand that the WORLD heard about what the President had decided LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. No hints at all until his walk.

IF this is HURRY UP AND GET IT DONE about bombing, we got ourselves a problem

because that is the way Washington works. Some will say no well knowing there will be some negotiating to get them to change their votes. That some will hold out and play the game until they get what ever concessions the were seeking from Obama. Remember the back room deals made by these hypocrites when doing the same thing on Obamascare.

Those who switch are the ultimate hypocrites/liars/decievers of we the people.

Keep in mind that all the actions by those from Obama on down are purely political. The plight of people whether USA or Syrians or Egyptians, et al has very little to do with the process other than being a facilitating entity.

Very sad.

btk

"Keep in mind that all the actions by those from Obama on down are purely political."

Sadly, and I pray I am wrong, every time he talks the last few days this statement of yours keeps ringing in my ears..... I hope not...I really do.

You cannot play politics....Dem versus Rep.....WH versus house, etc with foreign affairs. Even some foreign leaders can see some of it.

"Do congressional Republicans face an impossible choice between being politically used or undermining U.S. prestige in the Mideast? The corner that President Obama has trapped them in is just an illusion.

The most important fact about the president's decision to ask Congress' permission before striking Syria is that it is 100% political.

Even the American Enterprise Institute's hawkish Marc Thiessen warned that Obama's limited strikes "will likely fail, and he wants Congress on the hook so that Republicans cannot criticize his Syria policy when it implodes." Therefore, "Republicans should not take the bait" by voting yes."

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I don't think most of the country is against this action against political lines, but unfortunately those that claim to represent us are definitely doing so - otherwise it would have already been decided "we the people" do not want this war. Anyone catch Senator McCain's town meeting? He clearly wasn't concerned about how his constituents felt because obviously he and the others believe they know better than us.

I just said to someone in a pm.......blind loyalty to a man (Obama) I have a real problem with....blind loyalty to a philosophy (Liberalism) I can respect and find ground to discuss.

Point is....this is not about Obama, or Democrats or Republicans or any thing even close yet folks are still crying that game.

I was torn...I posted how I would support the President, then I did some reading on WHO we would help...on how limited this thing was, and now the politics being played.

That did it for me.no politics when it comes to foreign affairs....that is simply not acceptable in anyway to me. I am confused about what our strategy is...what do we want to accomplish and how....I am confused about the Presidents remarks on the red line, and his constant referring to congress recently when he ignored them up to last weekend. I am confused about who makes up the groups we would be helping with any kind of bombing.

All of that says NO to the bombing..not politically, just simply pragmatic. I will listen closely to the President on Tuesday as I have for the last week or so, but cannot imagine what he will tell me that he hasnt told me yet, and frankly if he did tell me something new, I would ask why he didnt say that before.

If our chambers vote on how they feel in their hearts, without any consideration to fall out or political consideration I respect all of them. If anyone is playing politics of any kind, lets look at getting rid of them.

"If our chambers vote on how they feel in their hearts, without any consideration to fall out or political consideration I respect all of them. If anyone is playing politics of any kind, lets look at getting rid of them."


Bucco - I thought they were supposed to vote what "WE" feel in our hearts - not what they fell in their hearts.

[QUOTE=gomoho;740672]"If our chambers vote on how they feel in their hearts, without any consideration to fall out or political consideration I respect all of them. If anyone is playing politics of any kind, lets look at getting rid of them."

"Bucco - I thought they were supposed to vote what "WE" feel in our hearts - not what they fell in their hearts. "


Yes and no in my opinion. The vote is so important because in theory you should vote for the person who will vote the closest to how you feel. That will never be infallible....but if you do your homework, whomever you vote for should be close.

That is because, as a poster pointed out but for a different reason, they have access to things we do not. I am certainly not trying to get them off the hook in anyway, an they have the town halls to hear us, but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, we need to do our homework before we vote. All votes do not get this much attention.

I am more concerned and will never forget...ever...our representatives turning this country upside down and voting on bills that become law that they do not even read....they just follow instruction.

But thanks for bringing that up....that always makes an interesting discussion.

We know, for the most part, they vote for what works for them...That said, this might be the first time in a very long time they are going to vote what their constituents want.

We shall see. There is a lot of arm twisting going on right now and it will continue.

As the American people are mounting protests against going in to Syria, Kerry is in Europe trying to drum up support.

Tuned right into public opinion as usual. So refreshing.

janmcn,

Please post the telephone numbers of our representatives so we can call them or email them and tell them our feelings on an upcoming war.

You are always so helpful with information like this.

Find Your Representative · House.gov

http://www.senate.gov/general/contac...nators_cfm.cfm

Good luck with this if people do decide to contact your Senator or Representative in the US Congress.

I am still not sure where I stand on Syria but am very glad that they are doing a lot of research and talking about this before starting another war.

Some sites you may want to look at before writing these people:
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/syria/
http://www.reuters.com/places/syria
http://www.theguardian.com/world/syria
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23990788
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/05/world/...war/index.html

At last someone who reads both sides of the story :BigApplause:

Additional if not primary proof of political motivation?
Why Obama is so focused on upholding the international standard of using gas weapons to kill over 1000 men, women and children......but remains silent and tolerent on the 100,000 men, women and children killed with conventional weapons.
???????????????????????????????
American people overwhelmingly vote NO.
International community votes NO.
UN votes NO.

All the above happen after viewing both sides of the story.

Minority reports graciously noted.

btk

The number for the main switchboard at the US Capital is (202) 224-3121. They will connect you with any of the 535 member's offices.

....he has ignored these deaths to a degree for a few years

....he has ignored previous chemical attacks in Syria

....he promised help with rebels about 2/3 months ago and nothing has happened yet.

BUT those acts are typical of our current administration, and I do not think are part of any political motivation.

Having said that, I am suspicious of the sudden turn around in going to congress, which admittedly shocked everyone including the Secy of State and other advisors. That turn around and his talking as if that never happened does make me very cautious.

Say what you want, our president is an awesome politician. Problem is we need a US statesman right now and not a politician. Politically, he has put himself in a position of win-win. No matter how the vote, he blames congress...shrewd move.

I just wish he would become a statesman, and with all the arm twisting going on, lets just say I get edgy.

Questions
 

How many or who that are in favor of war have witnessed a 19 year old screaming for his mother after being hit and is dying, how many have seen
the 19 year old returning from battle with a limb blown off and facing a lifetime of pain, who have seen the dead body of a 19 year old being placed in a casket to be returned to the US, who have visited and witnessed all of the wounded in Walter Reed hospital in DC, who have thought of the many wounded and killed and are being prepared to go back into battle to protect what may be a crazy bunch of rebels who are dedicated to killing Americans, or to throw a feather at the Syria leaders and then return home after many being wounded or killed. There is total proof that at least 75,000 boots will have to be on the ground to destroy any "gas locations". Dose anyone really believe that (a) it will only be that many and (2) no American will be killed. Maybe we are as crazy as the Syrians or rebels. There use to be a statement that 1 death is tragic and more than 1 are statistics. How sad it is when we lose the value of life. Some in our government have not served in the services and therefore have a "statistics" view of war as opposed to the real meaning. Lets all pray for our leaders to do the right thing by our citizens. :(

Not sure it is bashing as much as discussion. We are all so concerned about this situation it is a relief and comforting to me to be able to discuss on an open forum this situation with other Villagers. Please don't complain and get this shut down for the rest of us who are more interested in information than bashing.

I HONESTLY can see how you could feel that way...I really do. IF you looked at this as just another political exercise.

Difference, to me anyway, is we are talking about the country's foreign policy, and not an election. We are talking about a foreign policy and its author.

I did not start out bashing anyone on this thread and basically said I would back the President. But as everyone should be doing instead of listening to the political hacks I did some investigation, and would be glad to share links showing how the author of our policy is making stuff up about red lines, etc.

If our foreign policy is structured to ignore the killing of an american ambassador, try to camaflouge it when it happened, ignore the killing of men women and children for a number of years, ignore previous chemical weapons until now, and then stand up and be self righteous, I, as an american am embarassed.

And if you want this closed, then so much for any discussion of issues important to this country.....taking military action in the mideast is a bit more important than some of the things allowed for discussion.

What is more distressing is the taking of POLITICAL stances when discussing this. This is not about Dem versus Rep....not about the WH versus congress...not about Liberal versus conservative.....as a few keep trying to make it.

Obama Win-Win-Win --great move just keep saying he want to attack - really does not -- but force congress to make a decision -- no monday morning quarterbacks --- Post there vote and let everyone know how they voted -- i really dont think there will be a yes or no vote --- they will find a way out of a yes or no vote -- a very large percentage of them have no answer how they will vote --- what are they waiting for ????? keep up the good work "Obama" - really hope congress is forced to vote yes or no

We didn't start the fire.........:doh: