Posted on 09/09/2013 3:26:33 PM PDT by xzins
If Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gives up his chemical weapons, a military strike would "absolutely" be on pause, President Obama said today.
"I consider this a modestly positive development," Obama told ABC News' Diane Sawyer in an interview at the White House when asked whether Syria's apparent willingness to relinquish control of its chemical weapons would prevent a U.S. strike.
"Let's see if we can come up with language that avoids a strike but accomplishes our key goals to make sure that these chemical weapons are not used," the president said.
Obama's comments come after the Russian foreign minister suggested today that Syria could avoid a U.S. attack by turning over its chemical weapons stockpiles over to international control and destroying them, a proposal the Syrian government "welcomed."
Obama said that Secretary of State John Kerry would pursue the proposal with Russia, an ally of Syria.
But at the same time, Obama said that a potential diplomatic resolution doesn't mean that Congress should withdraw the threat of military action.
"I don't think we would have gotten to this point unless we had maintained a credible possibility for a military strike and I don't think now is the time for us to let up on that," Obama said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Oh, come on. The best stuff will always be hidden and unavailable to inspectors and incineration crews. Probably split off long ago and hidden in tunnels unknown to foreign intelligence. I'm sure that all kinds of expired and defective chemical munitions will be readily available for destruction, though.
Obama slithers out of the weasle hole to claim victory.
But, they have to keep this in the news for a couple more weeks until I invent another crisis to drive Benghazi, my economy, Fast & Furious, black murders in my sweet home Chicago, my foreign policy, etc. from the news.
Bashir, can you agree to this? (face saving measure)
Look. I tell ya what. Frankly, I don’t CARE if this moron ‘takes credit’ for this. One strike and the Russians would feel almost obligated to stop it best they can and possibly retaliate... and that would be wayyyy to close to nuclear war for my tastes.
I will damn TAKE IT.
However, there’s no win here. Let me explain why. This has NOTHING to do with chemical weapons, and EVERYTHING to do with the Saudis and Qatar wanting a natgas pipeline through Syria, to Europe. Russia does NOT want that, they have a lock on Europe’s natural gas, and they are broke. So this issue is not solved.
I predict, a month (maybe two) goes by, and another chem ‘attack’ is orchestrated by Saudi and rebel operatives, so the US can falsely claim Syria held some weapons back and used them again.
Ok, so, given the choice between nuke war now, or nuke war a month or two from now, I’ll take the latter.
I really don’t CARE if Obama takes credit. Only the liberals will buy it; middle- and right-wingers already know how horribly this whole affair was bungled.
As an analogy: Let us say some hikers decide to climb a mountain in the dead of winter, and become terribly stranded halfway up. If they happen upon a small cabin with supplies and survive until winter passes, then make it back down again, do you congratulate them on their ingenuity for finding the cabin? Or do you cuss their damn-foolishness for climbing a mountain in winter to begin with?
I no longer think this is a distraction. Does anyone around here really believe that Boehner is going to defund Obamacare, get to the bottom of F & Furious, not raise the debt ceiling, get to the bottom of the IRS, not grant amnesty and all because of Syria, were it not for that, they would pounce? I doubt it.
What have they done so far?
We will be lucky to have the twits vote against a Syria strike.
He will send troops to Syria to “make sure” the chemicals are taken away from Assad. Terrorists will attack our soldiers. The media will blame Assad. The war is on! And it wasn’t obama’a fault according the press.
It’s not about natural gas, oil, or any pipeline.
“WE”
If Russian troops are guarding the chemical weapons, any US strike on Syria is out of question.
That’s in the “monarchical case”
I am disgusted that this IDIOT has been given a weasel’s excuse out of this predicament he created for himself! Now he will be the Won again and go play a round of golf with a big smirk on his face. And give the U.S. Citizens a one finger wave as he skips across the eighteenth green. Just DISGUSTED!
If it isn’t a distraction where are all the threads on the budget fight, F&F, Benghazi, jobs, etc.? Take a look at the side panel.
This is hilarious. First please know that the Al Qaeda gassed the people in an absolute act of desperation to get the “do good” liberals and socialists in gullible USA to knee jerk a total violation of international law to get involved. Syria was not a signatory to the Chemical weapons treaty.so they don’t have to. Now they may do so so they can continue to slaughter our ARCH enemy,the Sunni Al Queda!! But only if all agree that Syria had nothing to do with the Chemical release near Damascus and That it was the Terrorists!! Otherwise — Pull the trigger. The Russians said it “Obama is like a monkey with a hand Grenade”. Get it on “O”. Fight or flight.
I respectfully disagree.
Thanks to Putin !
Not to Obama stupid arrogant liar
Putin is one mean dude! First he kicks Obama’s butt at the G20 meeting, then comes to his aid? He’s just toying with him at this point.
The crime of using chemical weapons is being plea bargined to anxiety served and unproductive negotiations
This one is over. Obama is off the hook. The media will dub him a savior and Obama will claim his threats alone shook enough fear to deliver victory without firing a shot. Nobody is happier about Kerry’s gaffe than Obama.
Congress just returned today. It is somewhat a distraction, but can you tell me that if it was not, the outcomes would be any different than what we expect on anything else?
If we cannot get the vote in the House to stop this, we sure as hell won’t get them to stop or defund anything else.
Now, this may get put off awhile. Some are already saying the other items may be put off until much later.
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