What To Do (or Not) About Syria

The Syria situation is a mess, there is no doubt.  I am certainly glad I am not President Obama at this time since it is kind of a Kobayashi Maru or "no win" scenario - except this time he cannot change the rules in order to win.

Shields and Brooks discussed the situation quite intelligently (before Obama announced today that he would seek Congressional input).




The problems I see here are kind of an amalgam of both of their arguments, (and I have the added knowledge that Obama has decided to consult Congress).

I think in the general, we-feel-good-about-ourselves democratic sense it makes sense for Obama to refer to Congress, since I don't think this is in any way a matter of national security in the sense of an  immediate life or death, danger to the Republic, barbarians at the gate type of thing. 

However, given the miserable and embarrassing record of this Congress at deciding anything, even of a trivial nature may mean that in fact we will by default do nothing for the worst atrocity against civilians by a government in recent history. 

David is right - presidents have pretty much been ignoring the Constitution as far as the power to wage war (which supposedly rests with Congress) for all of my adult life.  And come to think of it...all of those incidents have also resulted in rather nasty losses in "wars" that were never officially declared according to our Constitution).  Congress sort of "officially" absconded its duties with the 70's era War Powers Act...which I am somewhat surprised somehow passed court muster.

I also find this incident instructive in how much the paranoid, lies-based "foreign policy" of the Bush II administration has damaged credibility not only with foreign countries, but with the American people.  The fear of "another Iraq or Afghanistan" is palpable.  I have always thought that the Bush II Empire would go down as one of the most damaging periods in our history that it would take decades to recover from.

So, on the one hand, we have the outrage and indignation over the government of Syria using chemical weapons on its own people (which I do not think is in any serious doubt).

On the other hand, we have a valid question "why is this our (US) business?".

On the other hand, wait...wait...wasn't it Tevye who finally said "....there is no other hand!!!".  I think this is where President Obama (and now Congress if they can pull themselves together enough to actually accomplish something)  finds himself/themselves today.

Update 9/1/2013:

I see the predictable fault lines defining the positions on this issue really haven't moved (with the highly entertaining exception that the "blow everyone up", "American might makes right", "we have nukes and you don't" neocons are having convulsions trying to figure out how to support Obama without appearing to ... well ... support Obama.

Secretary of State Kerry also said today that the US had definite scientific evidence of Sarin gas usage in the suburbs of Damascus.  Given the additional evidence already known, such as intercepted emails from Syrian government officials basically admitting that gas was used, and there is no longer any doubt that the act was committed by the Syrian government forces.

Still, this really is a tough situation, and passing the buck to a Congress that is made up of people who have not only declared themselves brain-dead, but have spent the last several years proving they cannot and will not get anything done that does not enhance their reelection coffers may not be the smartest move the President ever made.  It also delays any impact of retaliation, and gives the Syrian government all kinds of time to attempt to cover up evidence and/or use their remaining stockpiles on their citizens.  Remember there is at least one separate incident apparently using a different agent that remains unresolved (and surprisingly out of the public eye).

So, it looks like someone has to do something or this will go on possibly endlessly.  Once again it is looking like the US has to be that 'someone' -- I just hope this time we have the fortitude to  actually realize the limitations of military action and the continuing need for diplomacy to have a role.