Puppet War in Syria

[Conan71]

The emails were released by a Malaysian hacker who also obtained senior executives resumes and copies of passports via an unprotected company server, according to Cyber War News.

I wonder if he got Mr. Underhill's American Express account number too?

[Townsend]

I wonder if he got Mr. Underhill's American Express account number too?

I was just thinking about that movie this morning.  Mostly about the possibility of another sequel and how big of a "no" that should be.

[Conan71]

I was just thinking about that movie this morning.  Mostly about the possibility of another sequel and how big of a "no" that should be.

In the annals of Hollywood sequels, Fletch Lives! wasn't too bad a movie.

Checking IMDB, looks like he's reprising the role of Clark Griswold in another round of "Vacation" shooting in 2014.  Of course that will release after "Hot Tub Time Machine 2".

[heironymouspasparagus]

m

[Townsend]

m

Any reason you don't just click the "Show unread posts since last visit"?

[Gaspar]

I'm waiting for President Obama to give his "Shock and Uhh" speech explaining how this is differenter than Iraq.

Should be a hoot!

. . .You know, if Iraq had a son, it would look like Syria.

[Gaspar]

Loose Lips on Syria




Mr. Assad,
Please move your people out of the way of our attacks.  No need to move your aircraft or weaponry.
Thank you, and have a nice day. 

[heironymouspasparagus]

Any reason you don't just click the "Show unread posts since last visit"?

I do that, too, but when I am particularly interested in a thread, I don't want to take a chance on losing track of it.  And really don't have any comment to add....so, I put the marker (m) in place.  Some of these hibernate for extended times.  I could just write something, I guess....but would rather cogitate a while.  Thoughts are approaching fruition, so may have a comment soon.

Hey!  I had a thought...actually a question about anyone else having a thought....


Has anyone else noticed the pattern the powers that be are moving into place? 

First, a quick diversionary question - have been listening to KRMG and KTOK about this and the trend is warping the discussion so they can bash Obama, as always - and for the wrong reasons, as usual.  I just gotta wonder about something - we now have Hezbollah and Al Qaida fighting/killing each other in a big way.  In just exactly which bizarro, seriously psychotic world is this a bad thing??  And yet, for some reason, Rupert Murdoch has taken the side of Al Qaida - wanting us to hurry up and attack Syria. 

Well, I guess the phrase "humanitarian reasons" is likely to be slung around during this - much like one of the straws that Bush's Boys slung around to justify Iraq.  That particular motivation has NEVER been one of our primary goals in the history of the country.  So, what is the REAL motivation here?  Well, besides Obama bashing, of course....


Back to the first question - nope, I will keep that one for later.

[Gaspar]

Interesting. I am seeing the opposite. Watched some Fox coverage yesterday, and the overwhelming theme was that the president should not attack, at least not without consulting Congress first and establishing a reason for imminent threat.

Yesterday 112 congress people (Dem and Repub) issued a letter to the president demanding that capitulate with his own 2008 statement concerning the power of a president to act unilaterally.  This morning there was news that he will not agree to come before congress, but will hold a conference call for concerned congress members. That is a step in the right direction. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/08/growing-bipartisan-coalition-urges-obama-to-seek-congressional-authorization-for-syrian-strike/

It seems when pressured this  president can make the right decisions, and right now the media (left and right), congress, and the international community is pushing him not to attack.  Krouthammer, Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, even Michael Moore are saying that there is no eminent threat To US interests. Chris Matthews is questioning to effectiveness of an attack too http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/08/27/chris_matthews_on_syria_hitler_didnt_use_chemical_weapons.html

The war drums are not coming from the media on either side, they are not coming from congress, and they sure as hell aren't coming from the people.

Letter to the president:

August 28, 2013
We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.

While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate — and the active engagement of Congress — prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.

Mr. President, in the case of military operations in Libya you stated that authorization from Congress was not required because our military was not engaged in "hostilities." In addition, an April 1, 2011, memorandum to you from your Office of Legal Counsel concluded:

"... President Obama could rely on his constitutional power to safeguard the national interest by directing the anticipated military operations in Libya –which were limited in their nature, scope, and duration — without prior congressional authorization."

We view the precedent this opinion sets, where "national interest" is enough to engage in hostilities without congressional authorization, as unconstitutional. If the use of 221 Tomahawk cruise missiles, 704 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and 42 Predator Hellfire missiles expended in Libya does not constitute "hostilities," what does?

If you deem that military action in Syria is necessary, Congress can reconvene at your request. We stand ready to come back into session, consider the facts before us, and share the burden of decisions made regarding U.S. involvement in the quickly escalating Syrian conflict.

Sincerely,

Rep. Scott Rigell (VA-02)
Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ-05)
Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-05)
Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05)
Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-04)
Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10)
Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-01)
Rep. Tom Rooney (FL-17)
Rep.  Steve Pearce (NM-02)
Rep. Tim Griffin (AR-2)
Rep. Justin Amash (MI-03)
Rep. Raul Labrador (ID-01)
Rep. Joseph Pitts (PA-16)
Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-08)
Rep. John Campbell (CA-45)
Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03)
Rep.  Joe Wilson (SC-02)
Rep. Charles Boustany (LA-03)
Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04)
Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01)
Rep. Austin Scott (GA-08)
Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8)
Rep. Randy Forbes (VA-04)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (GA-11)
Rep. David Roe (TN-01)
Rep. Mark Sanford (SC-01)
Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr. (TN-02)
Rep. Reid Ribble (WI-08)
Rep. James Lankford (OK-05)
Rep. Bill Cassidy (LA-06)
Rep. Stephen Fincher (TN-08)
Rep. Trey Radel (FL-19)
Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-02)
Rep. Lynn Jenkins (KS-02)
Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03)
Rep. David McKinley (WV-01)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (Fl-12)
Rep. Joseph Heck (NV-03)
Rep. Dennis Ross (FL-15)
Rep. Billy Long (MO-07)
Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
Rep. Steven Palazzo (MS-04)
Rep. Kevin Yoder (KS-03)
Rep. Doug Collins(GA-09)
Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Rep. Beto O'Rourke (TX-16)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19)
Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-5)
Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12)
Rep. William Enyart (IL-12)
Rep. Timothy Walz (MN-01)
Rep. Christopher Gibson (NY-19)
Rep. Trey Gowdy (SC-04)
Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10)
Rep. Michael Capuano (MA-07)
Rep. Michael Simpson (ID-02)
Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)
Rep. Thomas E. Petri  (WI-06)
Rep. Robert Pittenger (NC-09)
Rep. Walter Jones (NC-03)
Rep. Tom Latham (IA-04)
Rep. Richard Nolan (MN-08)
Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07)
Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (MI-11)
Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06)
Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07)
Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01)
Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09)
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-02)
Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02)
Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25)
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01)
Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY-02)
Rep. Sam Farr (CA-20)
Rep. Steve Daines (MT)
Rep. Robert Hurt (VA-05)
Rep. Steve Southerland, II (FL-2)
Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN-06)
Rep. Ralph Hall (TX-04)
Rep.  Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)
Rep. Robert Wittman (VA-01)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18)
Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06)
Rep. Todd Rokita (IN-4)
Rep. David Loebsack (IA-02)
Rep. Scott Tipton (CO-03)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Rep. Sam Johnson (TX-03)
Rep. Tom Price (GA-06)
Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11)
Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10)
Rep. Markwayne Mullin (OK-02)
Rep. Steve Stockman (TX-36)
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-05)
Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27)
Rep. Diane Black (TN-06)
Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-10)
Rep. Peter Welch (VT)
Rep. Lou Barletta (PA-11)
Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18)
Rep. Gregg Harper (MS-03)
Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-04)
Rep. Ted S. Yoho ( FL-03)
Rep. Bill Flores (TX-17)
Rep. Michael Burgess (TX-26)
Rep. Jim Matheson (UT-04)
Rep. Cory Gardner (CO-04)
Rep. Alan Nunnelee (MS-01)
Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08)
Rep. Charles Fleischmann (TN-03)
Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-07)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-07)
Rep. Collin Peterson (MN-7)

[Gaspar]

Now it seems that the president's "unequivocal evidence" is in doubt.  His campaign for military action is disintegrating as is his coalition.  Russia has dispatched a war force to meet ours in the Mediterranean.  

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITED_STATES_SYRIA_INTELLIGENCE_DOUBTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-08-29-03-11-56

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10272555/Cameron-backs-down-on-urgent-Syria-strikes.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/29/us-syria-crisis-hollande-idUSBRE97S0CU20130829

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-sending-warships-mediterranean-report-082257880.html

"That's a Mexican standoff,
and that was not the deal."

. . .But the president is still pushing for an attack:
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/08/29/2547651/obama-assad-chemical-weapons/

[heironymouspasparagus]

The war drums are not coming from the media on either side, they are not coming from congress, and they sure as hell aren't coming from the people.

Rupert Murdoch.


I am saying leave it alone - don't attack.  Let the kill each other off.

[Conan71]

Now it seems that the president's "unequivocal evidence" is in doubt.  His campaign for military action is disintegrating as is his coalition.  Russia has dispatched a war force to meet ours in the Mediterranean.  

Maybe they can tie up together and play canasta or cribbage?

[Gaspar]

A first!

The American people, MSNBC, Huffington, CNN, and FOX are all of the same opinion!

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/08/30/20256971-nbc-poll-nearly-80-percent-want-congressional-approval-on-syria?lite
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/08/28/if-obama-plans-to-strike-syria-must-first-ask-congress-for-green-light/

The president should get congressional approval before intervening in a civil war to help Al Qaeda forces defeat Assad. . . but he won't because he doesn't like the opinion of the American people or their elected officials.  He doesn't like it when it comes to domestic policy (Obamacare), nor does he like it when it comes to foreign matters.

Is this guy going to start WWIII?  If Russia and China are willing to join in retaliation, this could be a mess.

[Gaspar]

Assad's son is taunting President Obama on Facebook.



The kid is 11.

[Gaspar]

Wow!  Pelosi demands war.

I wonder if she will be against this one too after she is done being for it?

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/08/nancy-pelosi-barack-obama-syria-96065.html



Kerry had made his case too.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/running-transcript-secretary-of-state-john-kerrys-remarks-on-syria-on-aug-30/2013/08/30/f3a63a1a-1193-11e3-85b6-d27422650fd5_story.html

Hopefully he won't accuse any of our service men of rape and murder this time.