Monday, September 02, 2013

Bravely, Brave Sir President

Ah! The minstel sings the praises of his lord and master!

Secretary of State John Kerry, delivering a full-throated defense on Sunday of President Obama’s plan to delay military action against Syria, called the move to seek Congressional approval a “courageous decision[.]”

What the heck. The president sent Susan Rice to lie for him last year. This year let's try sending someone a little more senior to make an ass of himself in public.

You have to love Kerry's heraldry, of course:



Yes, Russia, Iran, and Syria want to do us harm.

The song should be about Assad. But that's not nuanced enough, naturally.

In a perfect world, President Obama decides to strike hard at Assad's leadership, starts arming and organizing non-jihadi rebels seriously to defeat Assad, and is backed by a Congressional authorization to use force. I'd vote for that resolution.

If President Obama just wants a symbolic strike, I think I'd vote against the resolution rather than support a futile attempt to risk American lives to maintain the president's reputation abroad.

If the resolution lacks the votes to pass, I hope the president has the courage to withdraw the resolution rather than be seen failing in leadership with Congress or put the military in a bad position Constitution-wise by deciding to strike anyway in defiance of the refusal of Congress to grant permission.

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt, eh?