US President Barack Obama announced on Saturday that, despite deciding as ‘Commander-in-Chief’ to take military action against Syria, he will seek congressional support for such intervention.
In his speech, Obama said: ‘In a world with many dangers, this menace must be confronted.
‘Now, after careful deliberation, I have decided that the United States should take military action against Syrian regime targets. This would not be an open-ended intervention. We would not put boots on the ground.
‘Instead, our action would be designed to be limited in duration and scope.
He went on to say: ‘Our military has positioned assets in the region. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has informed me that we are prepared to strike whenever we choose.
‘Moreover, the Chairman has indicated to me that our capacity to execute this mission is not time-sensitive; it will be effective tomorrow, or next week, or one month from now. And I’m prepared to give that order.’
He then shook the US establishment by stating: ‘I’ve long believed that our power is rooted not just in our military might, but in our example as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
‘And that’s why I’ve made a second decision: I will seek authorisation for the use of force from the American people’s representatives in Congress . . .
‘So this morning, I spoke with all four congressional leaders, and they’ve agreed to schedule a debate and then a vote as soon as Congress comes back into session . . .
‘And all of us should be accountable as we move forward, and that can only be accomplished with a vote.’
Obama said he was ‘comfortable going forward without the approval of the United Nations Security Council’ and that ‘many people have advised against taking this decision to Congress, and undoubtedly, they were impacted by what we saw happen in the United Kingdom this week . . .
‘Yet, while I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorisation, I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course, and our actions will be even more effective.’
He admitted to ‘the American people: I know well that we are weary of war. We’ve ended one war in Iraq. We’re ending another in Afghanistan. And the American people have the good sense to know we cannot resolve the underlying conflict in Syria with our military’ and ‘we’re not putting our troops in the middle of someone else’s war.’
With bankruptcies and strikes sweeping the US Obama is worried that the working class (the enemy at home) will not tolerate another war.
In seeking the support of the Republicans he is trying to form a united front against the US working class and the youth.
Many who expected stronger leadership from him are predicting that he will come unstuck.
Congress is expected to vote on September 9th
