Step Back and Count to Ten

[babylonsister]

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/8/30/10536/9036

Step Back and Count to Ten

by BooMan
Fri Aug 30th, 2013 at 10:53:06 AM EST

snip//


I understand the importance of the principle the president is trying to uphold, and I'd like to be able to support him. But he's way out on a limb right now. He doesn't have support from the British, from NATO, from the United Nations, or from the Arab League. One reason is that people have difficulty believing that we can strike Syria in a very limited way and then walk away even as Assad remains in power and on the offensive on most fronts of the civil war. Another reason is the evidence presented so far is paltry.

The president wants to keep his word that the use of chemical weapons would be a game-changer and have severe consequences. I understand that. But patience is warranted here. With time, he can build a stronger case or avoid compounding an error if the administration's initial judgments are wrong. If the UN inspectors provide evidence consistent with an attack by the regime, then most people will be satisfied that Assad deserves punishment. That's the minimum prerequisite for an action that lacks all traditional modes of support.

Personally, I would rather sacrifice some of Obama's credibility by doing nothing than by doing something in error or that leads to a deep morass. But, assuming that the administration feels compelled to keep its word and uphold the taboo on the use of chemical weapons, they still need to have a much better dossier than they're presenting right now.

They need to relax a little bit. Don't rush. If they are right, the case will get stronger.

[bigtree]

1. and, this is important

. . . yet, the administration is acting as if it's all understood if they cut a few corners to the truth on their way to their righteous cause.

Either they've forgotten, or never bothered to consider, that there are consequences to a presidential policy of making the rules as you go; and expecting Congress to cover for any overreach.

Besides, what's the rush? The Assad regime has had ample opportunity to amass their defenses and secure their military targets.

What is this all about, if it's not a pursuit of justice? What we have now is nothing more than a circumstantial narrative that assumes an attack was ordered from the top levels of the Assad regime by a process of elimination.

Couple that with an opportunistic escalation of our military involvement and the Syrian government opposition becomes the U.S. opposition.