Daily Lessons from Life 01 September 2013 - In shock move, Obama puts Syria strike on hold

"In shock move, Obama puts Syria strike on hold - AFP Sep 01, 2013 WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has postponed threatened missile strikes against Syria in a risky gamble that he can win more support for his plan to punish Bashar al-Assad's regime. To general surprise, the US leader broke with decades of precedent to announce that he would seek approval from Congress for action against Syria's alleged use of chemical weapons. This effectively pushed military action back until at least September 9, when US lawmakers return from their summer recess. Obama insisted that he reserves the right to strike regardless of Congress's decision, and a White House official said the pause would also allow him time to build international support. The Arab League meets in Cairo on Sunday and is expected to condemn Assad, and Obama travels to Russia next week for a G20 Summit that will now be overshadowed by the crisis. But the toughest battle, and perhaps the most dangerous for Obama's credibility, may yet be with his own former colleagues in Congress, where support for strikes is far from assured. Indeed, observers warned that he faces the same fate as Prime Minister David Cameron, who on Thursday lost his own vote on authorizing military action in the British parliament. "The chairman of the joint chiefs has informed me that we are prepared to strike whenever we choose," Obama warned during an address in the White House Rose Garden. "Our capacity to execute this mission is not time-sensitive. It will be effective tomorrow or next week or one month from now." At least five US warships armed with scores of Tomahawk cruise missiles have converged on the eastern Mediterranean ready to launch precision strikes on Syrian regime targets." The news headline said: 'In SHOCK move ...' which is sensationalizing in my opinion. Lessons for me are: 1. President Obama has SET the so-called 'red line' of 'if chemical weapons are used against the people of Syria' when the last time an alleged use of chemical weapons was made but with no conclusive so-called 'evidence'. This time, it seems that his own intelligence HAD concluded that there are 'evidence' though the UN inspection team just left Syria and said the 'concluding results are only available in a few weeks time' DID NOT say anything about 'evidence of use of chemical weapons'. Hence, President Obama's response of 'delay actions'; 2. It is quite clear that he is RELUCTANT to go to war overseas. Less so a war that could be termed as 'based on false evidence like THAT 'weapons of mass destruction' in Iraq started by President John Bush Jr.! While he has the sole power to decide on a strike, he is trying to get more legitimacy from his Congress and international allies. He wants to it the RIGHT WAY! Which is great as 'starting a war with the LEGITIMATE cause supported by the MAJORITY of his people and allies' is a very good start; 3. will ground troops be involved this time? I doubt so. In fact, if we are talking about disabling the Syrian army's capabilities to fight, very 'intense and targeted air strikes' will cripple it. There is totally no need to send in the ground troops. Of course, what will happen when the incumbent falls is the major concerns of the US and the international allies, and in particular, the Middle Eastern nations. For me, and what I heard on BBC this morning from some of the Syrians: 'who can take over and rule the country after the incumbent is taken out?', nobody care if the incumbent is removed. They are concerned with WHO WILL TAKE CHARGE of them and provide them with PEACE and STABILITY so that they can pursue prosperity and a higher meaningful life! Will they? ...