Phun and Gamez in the Med

Dr. Hess wrote:

Xceler8x wrote: I'm hoping this isn't another rich guy's war and the rest of our's fight.

When is it any other way?

Yep.

z31maniac wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote:

Xceler8x wrote: I'm hoping this isn't another rich guy's war and the rest of our's fight.

When is it any other way?

Yep.

been the same for about a bazillion years...

I don't think we're going to war here.

We haven't gone yet.

There's no support from our allies. If the UK, France, Germany, and Russia are unwilling to take on a small share of what's supposed to be a cheap operation, then they don't think they have much to gain from it.

There's no popular support for it (9% approval rating last time I checked).

There's no congressional support for it.

It would be fairly easy for the President to back down and say that while there are reasons to go he hasn't got the authority to go in under these circumstances. Failing that, he could back out at no cost except to himself by asking Congress for a declaration of war and not getting one.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: If Obama were clever and wanted to back out of his "Cross that line, rabbit, I dares ya" Yosemite Sam tough guy move without looking weak he could leave this up to Congress and re-emphasize his rail against Bush using executive powers to go to war.

That would work for Americans but not the rest of the world, including all the other despots looking to see what they might be able to get away with.

Obama really shouldn't have made that warning in the first place. The warning probably didn't deter Assad or tell him anything he didn't already know, and it removed the US' option to continue whistling and looking the other way no matter what happened in Syria.

In reply to chaparral:

It isn't a "war" if you don't ask then lob a bunch of munitions at the people. Therefore no declaration needed from congress.

Yeah, with the way we've done that for the past fifty years it can work that way. It's just subject to escalation and doesn't ever allow us to ever really be at peace.

It seems to work well enough, too, but what's wrong with asking Congress for a declaration of war? It would provide a plan for the start of the war, an expected commitment, and an objective for the end of it.

chaparral wrote: ...but what's wrong with asking Congress for a declaration of war? It would provide a plan for the start of the war, an expected commitment, and an objective for the end of it.

All questions should answer themselves so neatly :)

chaparral wrote: Yeah, with the way we've done that for the past fifty years it can work that way. It's just subject to escalation and doesn't ever allow us to ever really be at peace. It seems to work well enough, too, but what's wrong with asking Congress for a declaration of war? It would provide a plan for the start of the war, an expected commitment, and an objective for the end of it.

Nope, it would only be a "War" if we invaded, took them over, then did whatever we pleased. What they are suggesting is about the same as what we did to Iraq when Clinton was being impeached or more recently in Lybia. Drop some bombs, try not to get our hands dirty.

$hit is about to get real in Syria. Australians advised to run like hell.

Do only Australians need more motivation than shooting and explosions and chemical attacks?

Maybe they prefer the safer wildlife?

Looks like it's off for this weekend. The Brits backing out may have had something to do with it. If the only people in the world "with" you are the French, well, I read a quote attributed to Patton. Dunno if it's true or not, but it went "I'd rather have a German battalion in front of me than a French battalion behind me."

We'll see what Congress decides. That is, just how deep does this rabbit hole go? 5 or 6 years of planning (at least) going to get pitched because only 9% of the US population supports it (by one pole)?

Next danger points: Fridays after 4 eastern.

GameboyRMH wrote: Do only Australians need more motivation than shooting and explosions and chemical attacks? Maybe they prefer the safer wildlife?

Just tell them the Barbie is lit and the beer is cold, then step out of the way