Obama's Stunning Reversal: "the start of the historic American retreat"

On Friday, in a speech the President of the United States should have given, underling John Kerry made a fierce, passionate case for taking military action in Syria.The weak and feckless Obama was unwilling to employ his endless flapping tongue to explain to the American people as to why he was going alone to back up Al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood forces in Syria.

The NY Times reported:

Jabbing his finger at the lectern, his voice forceful, his words
brimming with indignation, John Kerry laid out the case like the
prosecutor he once was, making a closing argument to a skeptical jury.

Again and again, some 24 times in all, he used the phrase “we know” as
he described the intelligence that Syria’s government massacred more
than 1,400 people with chemical weapons. And then, while saying no
decision had been made, he left no doubt that the United States would
respond with military power.

Less than a day later, in a stunning failure of leadership, Obama reversed his position and said he would seek Congressional approval. And as urgent as the matter was just 24 hours prior, it wasn’t pressing enough to summon Congress back for a vote. No, Obama insisted they enjoy their vacation (something he does know a thing or two about) and return at their regular scheduled time – September 9th. Astounding.

Iran and Syria are calling this “the start of the historic American retreat.” Actually in began years ago under Obama. The turnover of political power to the Taliban, the complete pull-out from Iraq, the decimation of our military.

But this latest piece of theater of the absurd will do incalculable damage to America’s credibility and standing in the world. Is Obama a master at dismantling American hegemony and destroying America’s standing in the world  or an incompetent idiot? Diabolical or stupid?

One thing is certain, Iran will not worry about any American response to their nuclear weapons program from a toothless Obama.

Syria: Assad Regime Brands Obama Air Strike Delay ‘the Start of Historic Retreat’ By Timur Moon, IBTimes September 1, 2013

The Syrian regime has branded Barack Obama “hesitant and confused”
after the president signalled his intention to seek the backing of
Congess before launching air strikes on regime targets.

Deputy foreign minister Faisal Muqdad  said the unexpected
delay before any military action commenced showed the president was a
weakened figure.

“President Obama was clearly hesitant, disappointed and confused when
he spoke yesterday,” said Muqdad, in what was the first high-level
response to Obama’s speech on Saturday.

The regime had earlier labelled Obama’s move as “the start of the historic American retreat”.

A front-page editorial in the government daily Al-Thawra said Obama’s
reluctance to carry out strikes arose from his “sense of implicit
defeat and the disappearance of his allies”.

Obama feared any intervention could turn into “an open war”, Al-Thawra said, which had “pushed him to seek Congress’s consent”.

Al-Thawra editorials have consistently reflected the thinking of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

In an address to the American people on Saturday, Obama said he
intended to take military action over Syria’s alleged use of chemical
weapons, but would seek the support of Congress in authorising air
strikes.

His decision to seek political cover follows the surprise
parliamentary defeat of the British Prime Minister David Cameron’s
government in supporting armed intervention if it were backed by
evidence from UN inspectors.

Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Obama said he had decided the US “should take action against Syrian regime targets”.

As commander-in-chief, the president has the constitutional authority to launch strikes without the backing of Congress.

However, following the political setback in London, Obama’s move was seen as a bid to reach out for additional support.

“I’ve long believed that our power is rooted not just in our military
might, but in our example as a government of the people, by the people,
and for the people,” Obama said.

“And that’s why I’ve made a second decision: I will seek
authorisation for the use of force from the American people’s
representatives in Congress.”

Immediately after his speech, the president sent draft legislation
seeking approval to “deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade” Syrian attacks
to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the
Senate.

The move was seen as a considered response to Cameron’s abortive
attempt to gain parliamentary endorsement for intervention, though
critics questioned how efficiently the two nations’ political timetables
had been co-ordinated.

Any strikes will not now take place until Congress convenes to debate the action on 9 September.

David Cameron Reaction

After the White House announcement, Cameron posted on Twitter: “I understand and support Barack Obama’s position.”

Syria’s Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi had earlier struck a defiant
pose, saying ahead of Obama’s address that his country had its “finger
on the trigger” and was braced for US strikes

“The Syrian army is fully ready, its finger on the trigger to face
any challenge or scenario that they want to carry out,” said al-Halqi.

Obama ruled out a ground invasion, saying any operation would be limited in scope.

Critics said the delay would allow the Syrian regime time to disperse its troops and artillery in civilian areas.

Senior White House officials said they believed Obama’s attempt to
secure Congressional approval would succeed, although the vote could be
tight.

The president also consulted French President Francois Hollande before reaching his decision, the White House said.

In France, members of the opposition urged Hollande to seek a formal vote before joining Washington in any military operation.

Hollande has said he backs military action. Like Obama, he has the
constitutional authority to launch actuion without parliamentary
support.

However, Hollande is likely to await the outcome of the US
Congressional vote, and the debate in France’s parliament next week
before committing troops to action, French officials said.

A recent poll suggested that over 60% of French people do not back military intervention in Syria.

Arab League to Meet in Cairo

In separate developments, Arab League foreign ministers are to meet
in Cairo on Sunday in an attempt to forge a consensus on Syria amid
deep divisions on the question of intervention.

UN inspectors arrived in the Netherlands with samples from the
sites of the attacks in Damascus. They said tests could take up to
three weeks.

Washington said it believes 1,429 people were killed in chemical attacks on rebel-controlled suburbs of Damascus on 21 August.

Obama’s administration declassified US intelligence assessments on
the attacks, and said they had evidence that Syrian military chemical
weapons teams were operating in the area in the three days preceding the
attack.

The documents contained satellite evidence showing rockets were
launched from regime-held areas 90 minutes before the first report of
chemical attack. The US administration said it held intercepted
communications in which a senior Damascus official “confirmed chemical
weapons were used” and said he feared UN inspectors would obtain
evidence of this.

Speaking before Obama’s address, Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged the US to present its evidence that the Assad regime was behind the attacks to the UN Security Council.

Putin said it was “utter nonsense” to suggest the Syrian regime would
launch chemical attacks. Russia and China have vetoed two previous
draft resolutions on Syria.