Mr President, the Democratic Party is not ready for another war.

[kentuck]

Do not be coaxed by the siren call of the war mongers to rush into action in Syria. The Democratic Party will not accept it and you will do great harm to our Party.

The "red line" that you speak of can be applied to indiscriminate bombs dropping from the sky or missiles fired from drones just as much as it can be applied to the "poison gas" that was used by "someone" in the civil war in Syria.

The Democratic Party will not accept unilateral bombing by our country that puts us into yet another war in the Middle East. Beware those that whisper in your ear.

[quinnox]

1. Indeed. At this point, I'm wondering if there is a Condi Rice-type figure whispering sweet words of

war in the president's ear. Maybe Susan Rice is fulfilling that role. She has a history of being a war hawk. Hopefully the president is smart enough not to listen.

[AtomicKitten]

20. "Obama Opposed Syria War Plan from Clinton, Petraeus, Panetta, Gen. Dempsey"

http://www.thenation.com/blog/172774/obama-opposed-syria-war-plan-clinton-petraeus-panetta-gen-dempsey

Looks like Hillary is your huckleberry.

[quinnox]

33. so, do you support the military intervention of the USA into Syria or

not? What is your opinion.

[AtomicKitten]

50. I vote no on military intervention in Syria. nt

[Raine1967]

22. *sweet words* ??

This just reeks of sexism.

(at the very least -- sexism.)

[quinnox]

30. bull, that is your projection

It is a common expression. "The evil advisor whispered sweet words in the King's ear, to persuade the King to go along with devious plans." It could be a man or woman as the advisor.

[kentuck]

31. :-)

[Raine1967]

35. That's my opinion.

I didn't compare Susan Rice to Coni, either:

I'm wondering if there is a Condi Rice-type figure whispering sweet words of war in the president's ear. Maybe Susan Rice is fulfilling that role.

Sweet words isn't as common as you think. You can google it, I did.

But hey, I guess susan Rice is Condi-like to you, huh?

[quinnox]

36. Yep, not a fan of war hawks. I guess you are a fan of Susan Rice?

Is that why you launched that attack on me?

[Raine1967]

47. I found what you initially said dripping in dog whistle sexism. That is all.

Not an attack -- it's an observation. I'm pretty sure you don't care about my opinion of Susan Rice. You were the one who said this:

Indeed. At this point, I'm wondering if there is a Condi Rice-type figure whispering sweet words of

war in the president's ear. Maybe Susan Rice is fulfilling that role. She has a history of being a war hawk. Hopefully the president is smart enough not to listen.

Not I. They are not the same.

This isn't an attack -- it is me taking issue with what you said about Susan Rice.

Have a nice night, quinnox.

[Laelth]

49. My sense is that the UK wants this war more than we do.

But it would be very hard for us to say "no" to the UK.

-Laelth

[KoKo]

2. When I read that Cheney and Colin Powell were on the Sunday Shows...

I had a bad feeling. Everytime Cheney makes an appearance...Obama seems to snap to a whip.

Now we've got Kerry giving a Speech this afternoon which caused Jay Carney to reschedule his Daily Morning Briefing to go after Kerry's speech. So, seems he's anticipating the press will have many questions about whatever Kerry says.

that they don't do it. But not much hope that we aren't going to follow the PNAC down the road to hell.

[Gman]

3. I wish I had complete information on the topic

Because if so, I might agree. But this Democrat has a hard time standing by while children get gassed and no one wants to get involved. Don't know the source of the gas, but this has to stop. Bad things happen when good people do nothing.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Does that go for children killed with drones and cruise missles? Should we bomb America?

[Gman]

8. I prefer to stay on topic and discuss what might happen

In Syria. I dont know what weapons would be used, if any in Syria.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. The OP is about killing children. Is American killing of children any less fatal or horrendous?

And, we know where the drones originate.

[Gman]

17. The OP is about a whole range of bad things

From shock and awe type stuff. I don't know why we would need to do shock and awe. And I don't see that happening.

[atreides1]

29. Because a surgical strike in close quarters is a pipe dream!

Most of Syria's military facilities are close to cities and towns, like in Iraq...and the last time I checked cruise missiles still don't have the capability of telling the good guys from the bad guys!

More innocent people are going to die, only this time the US and it's European allies will be doing the killing!

Does that make it better, that Western powers will be killing Syrian women and children?

[Gman]

45. Why do people think the only way to go in is with guns blazing?

Bush is not prez anymore. There are many options that don't have to include shock and awe.

In any event it's immoral for us to stand idly by and watch kids get gassed. That we know is a fact. Cruise missiles and other things are only speculation.

[quinnox]

6. Most Americans disagree with you

US officials have confirmed that President Obama’s controversial “red line” on chemical weapons in Syria has been crossed. But that doesn’t mean Americans think he should do anything about it.

If anything, public attitudes toward a US military response in the face of new evidence that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons against its own people have hardened, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

About 60 percent of Americans surveyed said the United States should not intervene in Syria's civil war, while just 9 percent thought Mr. Obama should act, Reuters reported.

That majority opposition holds even in the face of evidence that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, the poll finds.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2013/0825/Obama-pressured-to-intervene-in-Syria.-Most-Americans-say-no-says-poll-video

[Gman]

10. Then I'm in the 40%

But I have a lot of information too. I've been following this all along. I don't know the knowledge level of those surveyed.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. In matters of conscience, the law of majority has no place. - Gandhi

Killing to stop killing is like fucking for chastity.

[Ed Suspicious]

34. Good phrase. I'll be premptively stealing it from you to stop theft.

[MindPilot]

56. "Fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity."

That's the original I think--remember for the 60s

[kentuck]

7. I think the turning point will be...

..when more women and children are killed by poison gas than are blown to smithereens by bombs and cruise missiles. Otherwise, we should look at murder of innocents in the same way. One is not worse than the other.

[Gman]

13. I don't know why we would need to

Shock and awe this. It's not like we would be looking to occupy Syria. And I doubt we'd go it alone.

[whistler162]

57. Ibformation you don't need no stinkin'

information! Just listen to the rumors and scream about how bad President Obama is! Doesn't matter the subject or the facts just listen to the rumors and scream.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. But...but...WE have good intentions! Don't we always? Doesn't every other killer?

[fletchthedubs]

14. My thoughts exactly.

How many children is it ok to kill as long as they're killed by us and not some evil foreigner?

[brooklynite]

12. You've surveyed them, have you?

It's always interesting when individuals speak for at large groups with such certainty.

[kentuck]

16. And you put your faith in polls like Gallup?

Which was so accurate in their predictions in the last election? There are polls on this subject if we wish to put our faith in them?

[brooklynite]

21. I'm saying that, as a Democrat, I don't know what the proper answer is...

...and I believe a lot of thoughtful people, including our House and Senate members, don't know either.

[kentuck]

24. And that is why we offer our opinions.

That is all we have. That is all that anyone has. My opinion is that it would be unwise to go into Syria or to drop bombs on them unilaterally. Syria is in the midst of a civil war and I think little success ever comes from getting involved in civil wars. Of course, there is a point where the world cannot tolerate mass killings, whether by bombs or by poison gas.

[brooklynite]

25. But you didn't...

...You opined on behalf of the entire Party.

[kentuck]

27. Yes.

That is my opinion about the Party. Furthermore, I would opine that the entire world would be against us.

[saidsimplesimon]

39. kentuck

I agree with you. Let those proposing a rush to war volunteer for combat duty.

We can never know the contents of security briefings being given to President Obama. After Iraq, I will never trust a President, Secretaries of State and Defense to tell the truth.

[kenfrequed]

28. Ok...

But if you don't know what the answer is then why is the default position to trust in bombs as a method to solve this problem.

[Rex]

15. War is mass insanity.

They should be illegal.

[RC]

18. Maybe we would not be facing this problem/decision, if Obama had not surrounded himself with Repubs.

I for one would like to know the reason for the 180° turn around between his campaign rhetoric and his Presidential actions.
The real solution is to stop supplying the world with war toys, guns and ammunition. Consecrate on the problem in this country and let Russia and China bankrupt themselves killing people, if they wish. For that is what we are doing now, killing people too poor to buy our MIC merchandise.

[CrispyQ]

52. People should watch "Lord of War."

The opening scene is incredible. The whole movie is very sobering.

[War Horse]

19. Obama doesn't seem to want to go into Syria at all

But I agree, he could be coaxed into it. As much as I respect him, he seems a bit... I dunno, pliable?

[zipplewrath]

32. Conflicting ideolgies

His problem is his conflicting ideologies. He doesn't like war because of the costs involved. However, he tends to see violence and acts of war as "solutions" to problems, and apparently often the first solution. He has as yet never really given any other approach a chance. His apparent second choice really should be his first. More of these problems should be handled earlier with international law enforcement.

[doc03]

23. I have thought for a long time when it comes to war

the script is already written and it doesn't matter who is in the Whitehouse.

[kentuck]

26. And polls are meaningless to them..

They know that polls are temporary and they can always change them once the bombs start falling.

[polichick]

37. "War, huh, good God y'all, what is it good for...

Absolutely nothing..."

[DeSwiss]

38. If there is one thing we should realize by now......

...is that this President dances with the ones what brung him to the dance. Bought him his flowers. And paid for his dinner.

- Now he is expected to ''put out.'' It's an old American pastime......

[center][/center]

[MelungeonWoman]

40. Until I see proof otherwise,

I suspect Cheney behind those attacks. He would profit as much as anyone from war.





Follow the money.

[totodeinhere]

41. Can you hear that sucking sound? I can. It's the sound of the United States

being drawn into another war in the Middle East which can only cost us billions of dollars and turn out badly in the end.

[LynnTTT]

42. Always a dilemma

We didn't interfere in Rwanda.

We didn't interefere in the Balkans.

We stepped in very late in the breakup of Yugoslavia

We didn't and won't interfere in Somalia.

And it's possible that many innocent people died because of our delays. Or not.

[kentuck]

43. And it's possible many of our own sons and daughters did not die in those places?

We cannot be the policeman of the world. As usual, we will choose where our "interests" lie. The lives of women and children have little bearing on the matter.

[railsback]

51. I keep forgetting

When we speak of humanitarian rights, we only speak of OUR humanitarian rights. The rest can go @#%$ themselves.

[DonCoquixote]

44. Yeah Obama

wait until Hillary gets into office to declare her wars, which are nothing more than the bidding of AIPAC. You have already tried so hard to woo the very people that will be stabbing you in the back and trashing you after you leave, the Clinton voters included!

[locks]

46. Some in both parties seem more than ready for war

The points made in this thread are well taken and I hope we make them to our legislators. Some news says only 7% of Americans want Obama to go into Syria; the problem is that our leaders listen to the voices of power, big oil, big international corporations, world bankers, and dictators and warhawks when we need them on our side.
Kerry is talking about our morality, the dead Syrian children, how we can't sit back while Syria uses chemical weapons on its own people. What do we do in Congo where thousands are being raped and murdered by their own people? What have we done about the thousands of Haitian children killed by cholera brought in by UN soldiers? Is it ok if the drones killing Afghans come from the US but not ok from Pakistan and Yemen? Or if the bombs used by Israelis and Palestinians to kill children were sold to them by the US?

We pick and choose our wars just like we pick and choose our version of ethics and morality. War does nothing but destroy lives, souls and conscience.

[forestpath]

48. K&R

[DCBob]

53. There isnt going to be "another war"..

There will be some bombings of suspected chemical warfare plants and perhaps a few other military targets. That's about it. I think no one in the WH has any interest in going to war with anyone at this point.

[kentuck]

54. Tell that to the Syrians and other Arabs in the area.

Please don't get angry if we bomb you...

[DCBob]

55. Of course they will be angry but that doesnt mean we are going to war.

This country has done punitive attacks in the past that have not lead to war... but of course you knew that.

[kentuck]

58. I guess you don't have to go to war when you are in perpetual war?

But, of course, you probably knew that?

[totodeinhere]

59. We probably won't be bombing chemical warfare plants. That could have the effect of dispersing the

chemicals and making matters worse.