September 11, 2014

Here we go again.

Another President waging war without Congressional authorization, as required by the Constitution, and without U.N. Security Council approval, as required by international law.

Another President asserting, "I have the authority" to wage war unilaterally, including in Syria. (And this President has done it before, remember, in Libya, to horrible effect.) Obama said he would "welcome Congressional support," but he doesn't need it. Actually, he said the same thing a little over a year ago when he threatened to bomb Syria to overthrow Assad. Now he's going to bomb Syria to attack Assad's chief enemy.

Another President expanding the number of U.S. servicemen and women in harm's way. Obama asked for 475 more, bringing the total up to about 1,600.

Another President cobbling together a flimsy coalition of the willing, or in Obama's terms, "a broad coalition of partners."

Another President talking about America, the Superior, and what a "burden" (Rudyard Kipling, come in please) it is for the United States to "lead" the world.

"American leadership is the one constant in an uncertain world," Obama said. This is braggadocio ala George W. Bush (and Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright, for that matter).

Another President invoking God's name in the interests of war.

Another President who fails to recognize how counterproductive war can be.

In Iraq, there are 6 million Sunnis who, with every bombing against ISIS, will be pushed more and more into the extremists' arms, as they see the United States waging war against fellow Sunnis.

In Syria, 60 percent of the country is Sunni, and bombing ISIS is likely to have a similar effect, further tearing that country apart. And if somehow the bombing "degrades" ISIS, it will serve to solidify Assad in power.

Another President who fails to come clean about the role of Saudi Arabia in fomenting Sunni extremism.

Another President who won't speak about the oil interests behind this action. ISIS, he said, "poses a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria, and the broader Middle East—including American citizens, personnel, and facilities." Some of those facilities belong to Exxon and Chevron in Kurdish Iraq.

Note that Obama didn't say that ISIS was a direct threat to the United States.

In that, he was different than George W. Bush, which makes this war even more senseless.



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