America Backs Down

[DearAbby]

What an historic day that would be. America Divided. Weakened our influence around the world. We used to stand united.

Do you think Obama is concerned about something stupid he may have said? Red line shit? I don't think so, something has happened, the evidence he has must be convincing, otherwise he would not continue. Obama isnt a partisan hack.

We have reason to distrust, Iraq is very fresh in our minds, Obama knows this. This must be something far more important to ask his country to unite around him.

Because divided, America will have to back down.

[quinnox]

1. Sounds like you think Obama has secret intel that Syria is gonna attack us or something

Oh, please.

[DearAbby]

5. I voted for Obama

the first time, in a long time, I wasn't just voting to keep the other party out. I trust this man. He is privy to intelligence we don't currently have.

I would hope he call back congress, I would have assumed Congress would be all ready back. The President is talking about unilateral strikes, and congress is still on vacation..is mind blowing to me.

But call Congress back to vote for this thing, and involve the constitition on this one. Unite the country sort to speak.

[quinnox]

9. Ok, fine. Let's hear this secret intel, I would love to hear it. Obama should address the nation

and tell us all about it. Maybe Syria was really behind 9/11, or is planning something big against our country. I'm all ears.

[DearAbby]

15. I would also love to hear this

evidence. I would want him to call back congress immediately and explain to them and the people, why we should give a damn about human beings being gassed.

lets use the constitution this time.

[MNBrewer]

37. No more lies, no more secret reasons to go to war!

ENOUGH!

[razorman]

47. Every president has access to intelligence that the rest of us are not privy to.

Even GWB. Using that fact, he got us into the Iraq mess. If President Obama is going to cite intelligence to start another war, he needs to go before the American people and fill us in completely, especially if WMDs are used as an excuse again. We have been burned before, and this all sounds way too familiar.

[marions ghost]

2. Like Barbara Lee (D-CA) said

--take it to Congress and let the people's representatives decide, like they did in Britain.

Obama need not take it all on his shoulders.

[KittyWampus]

4. Agreed, totally. Let the Congress decide. And if it screws up the timing, so be it.

[marions ghost]

32. It wouldnt take much time

but it needs to be done.

[avaistheone1]

29. Strongly agree with Barbara Lee.

I think this is what most Americans would like to see too.

[Aerows]

31. Amen

decisions to go to war should not be made in a vacuum and without the people's consent via Congress.

[marions ghost]

34. Obama has the opportunity

to make it a congressional consensus and that's what he should do. Even Barbara Lee didn't predict how that would turn out and she herself is against. She maintains that Congress wants to be clear as to the executive branch's reasoning.

[Aerows]

35. Once again

I totally agree. But it can't be made in a vacuum, and it needs to be made by people that will face their constituents as was intended in the first place. This isn't "national security", but any means.

[marions ghost]

45. Right, the responsibility must be shared

Obama needs to be careful and not take congressional support among Dems for granted. He needs to seek a clear consensus.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/syria-anti-war-democrats-96008.html

“There is ferment out there — you just haven’t seen it yet,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). “If they fire rockets in there, you’ll see a lot of people saying this is an absolute mistake, they should not have done it, I do not support it. The storm will follow if [Obama] goes without having the backing of the Congress.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) on Wednesday circulated a letter among liberal Democrats — 12 have signed on so far — that asked Obama to “seek an affirmative decision of Congress prior to committing any U.S. military engagement to this complex crisis.”

“Let’s be clear that the letter is calling for a specific action: debate,” said Lee, a former co-chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “Congress must assert our authority on this issue; that’s a bipartisan cause.”

Aside from Lee’s letter, there has been little coordination among anti-war Democrats who oppose the Syrian action. Part of their caution could be a desire to wait out the consequences of a U.S. attack and see how successfully it’s carried out before condemning it. “Most members of Congress of both parties would prefer to sit it out,” said Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). “If the president does well, they can say, ‘Gee we were there with him.’ If the president doesn’t do well, they can say, ‘We were against it.’”

Congressional Democrats were “incredibly critical of the Bush administration and the run-up to Iraq,” said Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.). “I think there is a high bar to be passed here, and I think there needs to be a strong voice.”

Democrats, he said, have been too meek in challenging Obama on the merits of his case for attacking Syria after allegations that President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons against citizens.

“I wish folks would be a little more vocal in asking for this,” he said. “We have to challenge the administration. If we’re being true to who we are, it is about the constitutional responsibility of the House and it should not matter who is the occupant of the White House.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/syria-anti-war-democrats-96008.html#ixzz2dTnkkXpn

[gopiscrap]

36. Yup I agree!

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Yes, I think it has to do with the red line shit

I think he made a mistake.

There is no evidence of anything happening there. For all we know the entire thing was staged.

[KittyWampus]

7. Here's staged for you (warning- dead children):

Last edited Fri Aug 30, 2013, 02:08 PM - Edit history (1)

AND NO I DON"T WANT BOMBING. But it's disgusting to see DU'ers even suggest that it was staged or false flag.

I added a warning for the alerters.

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. I can't tell anything from those pictures. They could all be drugged or something.

Sorry I have lived through all the bullshit that's been slung for the purpose of brewing up a war since the 60's. This whole thing looks like another scam.

[Jesus Malverde]

24. Assuming they are actually dead, is is ok to post gore on DU?...nt

[KittyWampus]

25. Yeah, they aren't dead they're just sleeping. I posted a warning for you.

[spanone]

26. 'assuming they are dead'. no they are child actors...and pretty damned good, eh?

[The_Casual_Observer]

44. Who the fuck can tell what they are. Could be drugged, could be a lot of things.

accounts of the dead vary widely. Some say 1500 some say 300. I'll bet they actually can't find a single one.

[spanone]

46. keep betting.

[DearAbby]

13. Mistakes

I would also believe Obama would have the character, to retract mistakes. I believe they thought just applying a RED LINE would be deterrent enough, it had worked in the past.

The country is too divided now, we are seen as weakened around the world. Half the country hates this President. openly rigging elections to get rid of him. Why should any leader. of any country, fear retaliation? Assad just sees America as he saw his own country leading up to their civil war.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. Go to war to avoid embarrassment?

[B Calm]

14. He'll be attacked by republicans no matter what he does. Best to let

congress take their vote first, then it will be on their shoulder for what ever they decide.

[DearAbby]

16. Something of this importance should involve Congress

They have to vote, to either show support of this President, or not. Up or down vote.

Divided America backs down. And what a historic day that will be. There will be a void, the position of super power will be soon filled. We will have backed down.

[B Calm]

18. I can't imagine this do nothing congress even getting around to a vote, lol.

[DearAbby]

20. A congress concerned about the Country

you would think they would already be in Washington. This really blows my mind. We witnessed gassing of innocent people in their own beds, and we shrug it off?

We claim to be a moral society, yet we turn our backs on people who would use such a weapon against innocent people. Maybe America needs to back down we have some real soul searching to do, hardly leadership material.

[Laelth]

22. The way we treat our own people is morally reprehensible.

I do not think America now (or ever) has cared much about "innocent" people, even if some of our citizens have, on occasion, called upon us to be guided by our better angels.

-Laelth

[treestar]

48. This is true

The Republican House will vote against it if they even do that. Just because there is a Democratic President. That will also prove they were liars on Iraq, since this is clearly much more justifiable than Iraq was.

They'll dilly dally and blame the President. It's what they do.

[MNBrewer]

38. I prefer that we "back down", frankly!

We SHOULD back down.

[NuclearDem]

8. God, I hate that bullshit strong man posturing nonsense

So the red line shit was a mistake. Backing off of that comment doesn't all of a sudden everyone else in the world is going to be suddenly emboldened to use chemical weapons or piss off the US.

If we're wrong, I'd rather us have the guts to admit it then feel like we have to continue being wrong just to not appear weak. That's stupid macho fascist shit.

[LuvNewcastle]

10. IOKIODI n/t

[cali]

11. good. our influence at this point in time, is not largely a benificent one.

[DearAbby]

23. Our influence was the military

and our covert operations. We have a pretty shitty record when it comes to being a Super power. The news of the black budget should be front and center now too. So much happening so fast.

I think Obama wants to put us on a more positive message, one of moral conscious. A Superpower must use their power wisely, and for the greater good.

I would hope he would recall congress, and force them to do their duty under the constitution, and vote. Either support him, or stand divided, and America Backs Down.

[MNBrewer]

40. We ARE divided.

What's wrong with simply acknowledging that? We are divided. But more people oppose intervention than support it!!

[demwing]

17. You assume that things are as they appear to be

Perhaps Obama has perfectly sound reasons for this position, but which relate more to the leadership in Iran than they do to the situation in Syria.

BTW - when I say "perfectly sound" I do not mean "perfectly acceptable." He may be up to something that would not play well with his base, but which he feels must be pursued regardless.

1 year ago he had the benefit of the doubt. After the NSA revelations, he just doesn't. I don't see the transparency that was once promised, and trust doesn't just switch back on again like a light bulb

[NCTraveler]

19. "Obama isn't a partisan hack."

I really dislike that shitty term. "Partisan Hack". It is meant to diminish the opinions of the left and right. It is something said by DLCers to make them feel good about their lack of political courage. A partisan is exactly what we should want and is what we need. Someone on the left willing to hold true to their belief structure. Obama isn't a "partisan hack" because he isn't partisan.

[sibelian]

21. That's the most self-pitying, neurotic thing I've ever heard. How old is America? 3 and a half?

Would you give credence to that kind of weepy bullshit to a grown man?

[Squinch]

27. Well, we clearly ARE divided, so let the backing down begin.

And there are a pack of those same types of photos for every bad war we have ever entered. After we entered the war, there were lots more of those dead children. Our participation certainly doesn't stop that.

[Spider Jerusalem]

28. Hewing to the "red line" thing isn't about partisanship.

It's about the USA not looking weak internationally. Domestic political considerations don't enter into the calculus here.

[backscatter712]

30. Am I the only one who finds the whole "red line" rhetoric and "stand tough" demands total nonsense?

It's pretty obvious that the US blowing shit up in Syria isn't going to solve anything - it won't get Assad to back down, it won't save lives. So it's better to accept reality, turn the saber-rattling down a notch, and come to a solution with the international community rather than defying it.

[Aerows]

33. It damn well should

because we can vote politicians out just like we vote them in if they don't do the will of the people. And this is, not by a long shot, the will of the People to go to war with Syria.

[Spider Jerusalem]

39. Which I don't dispute.

It's something that should be brought before Congress and put to a vote...after the UN inspectors' report, if the findings support the contention that chemical weapons were used by Assad's forces. (And preferably with UN authorisation.)

[Aerows]

41. We are definitely on the same page, then

my friend.

[markiv]

42. where is all this interventionism getting us?

besides bankrupt and hated around the world?

how many people can name a fallen soldier from any of the last wars who wasnt a friend, relative, or from your home town?

how many people can name anything we have gained in return?

the fear of terror as 'blowback' has brought us to a place were we cant even make a phone call without it being logged

iand now we're talking aboiut re-igniting the cold war with russia, a situation that very nearly ended life on earth as we know it

from the maddux toncin gulf incident in 1964, to 2002's WMD!!!! calls, as often as not it seems that errors pushed us hastily into intervention, often with an agenda, that does NOT represent the average American

it's time to stop and think

[Marr]

43. You've got to be kidding me with this Bushbot bullshit.

All these same things were chanted by Bushbots to counter anyone who pointed out the holes in that administration's transparent con-job.