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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Obama made last-minute decision on Syria approval
2013-09-01
[MIAMIHERALD] Senior administration officials say President Barack Obama
I mean, I do think at a certain point you've made enough money...
had planned to take military action against Syria without congressional authorization, but told aides Friday night that he had changed his mind.

Obama announced Saturday that he wanted to launch a military strike, but would first seek politicians' approval.

The officials describe a president overriding all his top national security advisers, who believe consulting with Congress was sufficient.

The officials say Obama spent the week wrestling with Congress' role and made the decision Friday after a lengthy discussion with his chief of staff, Denis McDonough. They say Obama decided seeking approval would make the U.S. stronger even though he still believes he has the authority to act alone.
Posted by:Fred

#10  From AoS: "OPERATION ENDURING HESITATION"
Posted by: Uncle Phester   2013-09-01 21:21  

#9  Going out on a short limb here. Even money either way...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2013-09-01 15:24  

#8  Bi-partisan squeaker on the side of the President, a no would have way too many ramifications for the body politik. A naw would be entertaining as hell tho, and historical even.
Posted by: Shipman   2013-09-01 15:13  

#7  I dunno. There are enough "his guts, our blood" GOPers (Peter King, R-blowhard-NY) and "all wars are icky, always!" dems (take your pick) that it could be a bi-partisan squeaker either way. That'd really be a poke in the eye with a sharp stick for obooboo...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2013-09-01 14:41  

#6   create a constitutional crisis.

I'm skeptical. When Congress comes back, they spend a week posturing. The vote splits along party lines with just enough Dems defecting to throw it into No. Obama shrugs and says I tried to Do The Right Thing but the Evil Republicans stopped me. Man, those guys really suck. Sorry! More speechifying ensues.
Posted by: SteveS   2013-09-01 13:13  

#5  does such an act place the President in a position to be subject to international laws governing the acts and waging of war and thus surrenders the immunity of the office once left?

Possibly. It may (Donald Sensing says it will) create a constitutional crisis.

Personally, if I was looking to force a decision on the legality of the War Powers Act, that would be the way to do it.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-09-01 12:22  

#4  We could only hope.
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2013-09-01 11:30  

#3  The real question is that without Congressional approval and Constitutional authority to execute any military operation outside of immediate threat to the United States - aka outside the law, does such an act place the President in a position to be subject to international laws governing the acts and waging of war and thus surrenders the immunity of the office once left?
Posted by: Procopius2k   2013-09-01 09:09  

#2  It's geared toward 2014.
Posted by: Pappy   2013-09-01 08:39  

#1  Something stuck to his golf shoe again? Those useful idiots doubting dems and French republicans will make it all go away. A bit more dithering should bring us back from the brink. All in all, a successful, low-cost diversion.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-09-01 07:24  

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