Is this a time for a man of peace or a man of war??

[kentuck]

President Obama may be wise to think on that?

Does he want to follow his conscience and be vilified as another Jimmy Carter and another man of peace?

Or does he want to follow the examples of George W Bush and Ronald Wilson Reagan? Does he want to exert America's power or does he want to calm the flames and look for ways to cooperate with our allies, both at the UN and at NATO? Is war what we really need at this time?

Of course, the world, America included, cannot sit by and watch this happen time after time, as they did with Hitler before WWII. Mr Assad must be willing to negotiate a peace, and to call for democratic elections to let the people choose their leader. If he refuses to do anything like that and continues to kill his people, then there can be no second chances. The world must act or the President of peace will have to reconsider his options.

First of all, he should call the Congress back to Washington. This is an emergency.

Then he should call for a vote from Congress to give him authority, although he believes he has that power already under the War Powers Act, to act militarily if Mr Assad does not call for fair elections or if he does not step down. Or if the hostilities against his own people does not stop immediately. That is what the Congress will be voting on.

It is then that the President will have to decide if he wants to be a man of peace or a man of war?



Congress should be called back on the Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor Day next week. Then they should be ready to take a vote by Thursday. Then, as per the Constitution, he will follow the advice of the Congress of the United States. It is about time that they earn their pay.

[Cali_Democrat]

1. I genuinely think Obama doesn't like to see people get gassed

But responding with force isn't necessarily the right approach. Aircraft carriers and tomahawk missiles can't solve all the worlds problems.

[pscot]

2. The Prez needs to find a graceful way

to climb in off the limb he's got himself stuck on. Politicians say one thing and do another all the time. Obama's expert at it. He needs to find a way to finesse this so he gets credit for being tough but doesn't kill anyone. He could just say he's thought it over and decided there has to be a better way. Or he could just pretend he's going to do it, and not do it. The fighting over there has stopped, because everyone's holding their breath. Let 'em hold it until they turn blue. Also, now would be a good time to approach the Russians. We have a gun pointed at their clients head. Now we say, "Come. let us reason together". Be a great ice-breaker.

[kentuck]

3. Negotiate out of strength...

But there is too much war in this world at this time. We need men of peace. It is better to work toward peace and fail than to go to war.

[pscot]

4. He has yet to validate his Peace prize

He has never embraced it.

[kentuck]

5. This decision will be his legacy, in my opinion...

Not the Affordable Care Act.