Dear Conservative Friend,
President Barack Obama briefed Congressional leaders Thursday on the Syria crisis via teleconference. Some evidence of chemical attacks by the Syrian regime against their own people was shown, but there are still skeptics. The President voiced an urgency to equate last week’s chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilians, including children, directly to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Ideally, the White House wants to link the attack directly to Assad; and not some rogue element or rogue commander, acting without Assad’s approval. Obama wants to use military actions to send a “strong signal” to the Assad regime.
Several hundreds of Syrians were killed in the August 21st massacre just outside the capital city of Damascus. Frankly, this is only a small percentage of the over 100,000 who have been killed during this recent civil war. Many watched their television sets as news video reports showed children shaking from the nerve gas, just before they died. It was horrific. And, we agree, that somehow must be stopped!
However…..
Here is a real rub: President Barack Obama does NOT have the authority to declare war! U.S. cruise missiles are already in position, ready to strike Syria; again, without Congressional authority! Please remind Congress of their Constitutional duty!
Congress not only has the responsibility, buy the DUTY to officially decide if war is to be declared on Syria. Although, on numerous times in the past, Congress has literally “stood by” while the president starts military actions; and then follows suit.
But for President Obama to act WITHOUT the approval of Congress is technically ILLEGAL! This is still a “civil war” of another country! Technically, the Syrian government has done absolutely NOTHING that requires the United States military to act to protect the “INTERESTS” of the United States!
Quite frankly, this is a military action that should not take place just yet! A declaration of war entails where there are threats against the national interests of the United States of America. NOT YET!
On Wednesday, President Obama said that United States intelligence actually linked the lethal chemical weapons to the Assad regime. He said: “We have concluded that the Syrian government in fact carried these out. And if that’s so, there needs to be international consequences.”
Slatest reminds us: “The United States has no more authority to attack Syria for violating these treaties (The Geneva Protocol, the Chemical Weapons Convention). The Constitution gives Congress, not the executive, the power to declare war, and at present, the administration seems unlikely to ask Congress for authorization, lest it say no.”
The “RUSH TO RETALIATION” has been pressed back by many with years of experience with words of wisdom; as opposed to a “Commander-in-Chief” that needs bolstering in the polls!
The United Nations Weapons Inspection Team was NOT leaving Syria until Saturday. The chemical weapons reports will be handed over to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, probably not until Monday; then the Security Council will be given copies. So any military strike by Barack Obama before the end of next week will be devastatingly pre-mature!
The United Nations Charter bans military interventions without Security Council approval, which China and Russia would oppose.
Ban Ki-Moon asserted: “The United Nations investigators should be allowed to continue their work as mandated by the member states and I told him (President Obama) that we will surely share our information and our analysis. Diplomacy should be given a chance. It’s important that all the differences of opinions should be resolved through peaceful means and through dialogue.”
So far, on the Security Council, Russia and China oppose any military intervention! This, in itself, shuts down a coalition effort; something that the Obama administration had hoped for.
In spite of President Barack Obama’s rush to judgment, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Thursday: “If any action would be taken against Syria, it would be an international collaboration.”
However, the British Parliament voted late Thursday, with a 35-vote majority, to NOT be a part of any Syrian attack (at this point). Italy and Germany have said they will not participate in any Syrian coalition effort. That leaves only France to assist embattled President Barack Obama, since he has indicated that the United States “will go it alone” against Syria. France has scheduled an emergency meeting on Syria for September 4th!
I am not sure what protection of supposed “national interests” is in this war attack for either the United States or France!
U.S. warships in the region now number five. Russia has dispatched two warships to the region, still backing the Assad regime. Even though Russia has sent warships to the Mediterranean among Syrian tensions, a highly-placed Russian navy official told sources: “This is not a new group…but a planned rotation.” AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT…!
But, the supposed “international coalition” has toned down the rhetoric.
The New York Times and the Associated Press has both reported that the evidence is severely lacking in that Assad ordered the use of chemical weapons! Both reports: “The United States Intel. Community says the Assad connection is no ‘slam dunk.” The intelligence linking Syrian President Bashar Assad or his inner circle to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed at least 100 people is no ‘slam dunk,’ with questions remaining about who actually controls some of Syria’s chemical weapons stores and doubts about whether Assad himself ordered the strike, U.S. intelligence officials say…”
The Associated Press reports: “Multiple U.S. officials used the phrase ‘not a slam dunk’ to describe the intelligence picture – a reference to then-CIA Director George Tenet’s insistence in 2002 that U.S. Intelligence showing Iraq had weapons of mass destruction was a ‘slam dunk’ – intelligence that turned out to be wrong. A report by the Office for National Intelligence outlining that evidence against Syria is thick with caveats. It builds a case that Assad’s forces are most likely responsible while outlining gaps in the U.S. intelligence picture.”
Some within the intelligence community have cast doubt on whether or not Assad was behind the attacks. Various Middle East sources say that the Obama administration's claim that the Assad government was behind the attack is doubtful!
Most importantly, AMERICANS DO NOT WANT THIS MILITARY STRIKE!
A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that only 9 percent support military action in Syria. If it were proved that Syria used chemical weapons, support increases to only 25 percent, with 46 percent opposed.
A new Huff Post/Yugo poll shows that only ONE-QUARTER of Americans support an air strike. The results (after U.S. officials claimed Syria’s government killed thousands of civilians with chemical weapons), shows 25 percent of Americans now support air strikes to aid rebels in Syria, while 41 percent said they are opposed. Another 34 percent said that they were not sure.
Here is how your next-door neighbor Americans reflect and think: “The 59 percent of respondents who say they believe Syria has used chemical weapons against rebels they were about evenly divided on whether the U.S. should conduct air strikes, with 37 percent in support and 38 percent opposed. Twenty-six percent were unsure.”
Congress despises a “declaration of war” without their approval! And so should you!
Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, warned: “We better be assured that it’s Bashar Assad’s group that’s using the chemical weapons and it’s not the other side who…is using them to pull Americans into that battle in the Middle East!”
Other important notables chimed in on this Syrian crisis:
U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) wrote a letter to the president to ask how a military strike on Syria would secure United States objectives! He wrote: “I respectfully request that you, as our country’s commander-in-chief, personally make the case to the American people and Congress for how potential military action will secure American national security interests, preserve America’s credibility, deter the future use of chemical weapons, and, critically, be a part of our broader policy and strategy.”
U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said: “The United States should condemn the use of chemical weapons and determine who used them. I call for an open debate in Congress over whether the situation warrants U.S. involvement,” since the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war.
LTC Oliver North talked about presidents who use cruise missiles: “They’re good for setting the pace for shock and awe for a real campaign that’s going to continue. And Number 2: making a weak president feel powerful. That’s what Bill Clinton did, that’s what Barack Obama’s doing!”
Need I write more?
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So let’s look at the “scorecard”:
1. Congress is against military intervention
2. Americans are overwhelmingly against intervention
3. The United Nations is against military intervention
Former Secretary of State and then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell issued the “Powell Doctrine” and received praise from Democrats and Republicans, doves and hawks. Powell set forth several conditions for the commander-in-chief to meet before using the military. A military mission, according to Powell, must first and foremost be vital to our national security. The mission should be clearly defined, have an exit strategy, use over-whelming force to achieve its objective and enjoy popular domestic support.
Does an Obama strike on Syria fit that bill? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!
Yet our floundering “commander-in-chief” continues to use his inexperience to march America closer to war! Please, please fax every Congressman today!
Sincerely,
Conservative-Daily
P.S. I just want to add “insult to injury” by reminding you, that, as taxpayers, IN AUGUST, you gave $195 million to help the Syrian people!
As a part of the festivities that mark the end of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, President Barack Obama issued the following statement:
“Michelle and I send our warmest greetings to Muslims celebrating Eid-al-Fitr here in the United States and around the world. To help the many Syrians in need this Eid-al-Fitr, the United States is providing an additional $195 million in food aid and other humanitarian aid, bringing our humanitarian contribution to the Syrian people to over $1 Billion since the crisis began.”
THANK YOU, AMERICA!!
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