David Cameron asked permission to strike Syria. Why won’t Obama?

[cali]

On Thursday, the British Parliament voted against military action in Syria. The Obama administration, meanwhile, has said it would make its own decision on any possible strike.

That raises an obvious question: Why does British Prime Minister David Cameron have to ask legislators for permission to attack Syria while Obama doesn’t?

The short answer is that Cameron technically didn’t have to get Parliament’s consent, but he asked anyway. Obama, by contrast, is arguably required to consult with Congress — but probably won’t.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/30/david-cameron-asked-permission-to-go-to-war-in-syria-why-wont-obama/

[geek tragedy]

1. The answer: Parliament takes its duty to debate the issue with the utmost seriousness

Congress is interested only in pretending to debate the issue while avoiding any accountability

Congress is not going to be in session until September 9. That's how seriously they take the need to debate this.

[cali]

4. that begs the question. Many congress critters have

said they'll come back for a vote.

The President doesn't want to deal with Congress on this. He's the decider. He's said so himself.

[geek tragedy]

7. Some care, some pretend to care.

But, until they demand that Boehner and Reid bring Congress back into session, meh.

[cali]

22. Has the President asked Boehner and Reid to do that? Double meh. It's his fucking

responsibility.

[geek tragedy]

24. It's 'his fucking responsibility' to have Congress stop vacationing

and do actual work and take its responsibilities seriously?

You're awful willing to give Boehner&CO a free pass on this one.

[PoliticAverse]

27. The Constitution gives the President the power to call Congress back into session...

http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A2Sec3.html

He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

[geek tragedy]

28. They don't need his permission, do they? They can call themselves back into session and start

scheduling hearings right away if they want to.

But they don't.

[cali]

29. Good grief. It's his fucking responsibility. He's the one who wants to use mlitary force.

this is about as basic as it gets.

[geek tragedy]

30. Good grief yourself. If he was talking about bailing out banks, they'd

already be back in DC.

Congress is a co-equal body of government that has a full duty to actively assert its role and voice in such deliberations.

Your eagerness to blame Obama for something he hasn't done yet is now causing you to blame him for Congress's failure to step up to the plate.

It takes two to tango, and if Congress can't be bothered to show the fuck up, that speaks volumes.

[sibelian]

2. Cuz he DA MAAAAAAN.

[DevonRex]

25. You really want to mock like that? Seriously?

"The expression originated among black speakers, and the use of the verb-less "You the man" instead of "you're the man," and the pronunciation "You da man," are both intended to reflect a common Black English usage."
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19990910

[DJ13]

3. Because Congress might say no?

That would disappoint the MIC like a kid on Christmas morning getting socks in the pretty box.

Obama cant disappoint them, that isnt an option.

[cali]

5. we have a winner.

[former9thward]

6. He won't because he is afraid of what the answer might be.

I actually think they would approve because they are not as principled as the British Parliament but it is not a sure thing. Also he does not want to spoil their Labor Day month long holiday.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Democracy is too important to be left to the people or their representatives. Father Knows Best.

[HappyMe]

9. I really don't think Congress gives a fuck.

[bunnies]

10. Agreed. Theyve got vacationing to do!

[HappyMe]

11. Whether they are there or not,

the result is the same - nothing gets done.

[bunnies]

19. Nothing but complaining, that is.

The cowards whine about not being consulted on Syria but cant bother to come back? If the bankers needed a bailout those asses would be in those chairs.

[HappyMe]

26. That's exactly right.

They can sign whatever they want or whine about not being consulted, but it doesn't mean shit the minute they left town.

[scheming daemons]

12. War Powers Act says he has 60 days to act unilaterally. After that, he needs congress.

Whether the WPA should exist or not is another story.

But it does.


And in any case, Obama has taken no action yet.... So your supposition is premature.

[1-Old-Man]

14. Does the war powers act apply if we have not been attacked?

Or can the President simply go to war with anyone anywhere anytime on any excuse what so ever so long as its only for a couple of months before he requires any sort of constitutionally recognized authorization to do so?

[scheming daemons]

18. That is the question... Isn't it?

[Peregrine]

16. and it is unenforcable

It infringes on the powers of the executive branch and congress does not have authority to do so.

[Peregrine]

13. Because he doesn't have to

Constitutionally in is Commander and Chief and has the authority to use the military as he sees fit. Congress only has the power of the purse. Can't see congress cutting funds to DoD.

[cali]

23. baloney. War Powers Act.

[Xithras]

34. That argument is simply false.

Article 1, Section 8:

Congress shall have the power...

To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.


The powers that use the term "provide for" refer to money, but Section 8 makes it quite clear that Congress has the power to regulate the military, how it is run, and how it is used.

The War Powers Act is entirely constitutional. The President gets to run the military, but Congress gets to set the rules by which he can do so.

[KittyWampus]

15. Time.

[Nye Bevan]

17. Whatever you think about Syria, the way the Brits handled this was exemplary.

That is how a democracy is supposed to work.

[Logical]

21. I agree. The president in front of congress answering questions would be a great idea! n-t

[KharmaTrain]

20. Parliamentary System Vs. Constitutional System...

...the Prime Minister is the equivelent of the Speaker of the House...the leader of the majority party in the legislature. If he acts against the wishes of the legislature (especially his own party), a no confidence vote can be taken and his government could fall. Our three tier system gives the President far greater powers when it comes to taking military action and, according to the War Powers Act has upwards of 90 days to wage a war without the consent of the legislative.

Seems we're seeing the cumultive effect of the British House of Commons vote along with dissent from various factions in his own party to launch any strike. Seems our Congress isn't too concerned...they aren't planning on any emergency session like the House of Commons did...

[doc03]

31. He wouldn't like the answer, it's full steam ahead damn

the consequences.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

32. GOP jackals in the House would use the opportunity to make a circus, to shame the President.

And with the lies that got us into Iraq still fresh in some minds, it would be all the more difficult to talk congress into supporting this war (yes, war). The stars just aren't lined up right now.

HOWEVER, none of this should be a surprise to the President, and this should have gone into his calculus before he backed himself into a corner of his own making. The President is going to lose some face. I fear he'll lose even more if he makes the mistake of going to war virtually alone.

[Link Speed]

33. Because Raytheon is a US company

Raytheon has cruise missiles to sell. The Brits would just spend a lot of money on transport.