Obama's Bad Syria Bluff

RealClearPolitics ^ | August 27, 2013 | George Friedman, Stratfor

[Second Amendment First]

Images of multiple dead bodies emerged from Syria last week. It was asserted that poison gas killed the victims, who according to some numbered in the hundreds. Others claimed the photos were faked while others said the rebels were at fault. The dominant view, however, maintains that the al Assad regime carried out the attack.

[Second Amendment First]

That's the hand the president has to play, so it's hard to see how he avoids military action and retains credibility. It is also hard to see how he takes military action without a political revolt against him if it goes wrong, which it usually does.

obama: "Don't call my bluff!"

[Diogenesis]

It is not about a ‘bluff’,
but about a fraud.

A ‘false flag’ is a self-inflicted ‘hand’.

[DeaconRed]

Couldn't happen to a more deserving TURD! ! ! ! ! !
" ZERO Says: I Want to be a cowboy" He is all Hat. . . No Cattle. .. .

[JRandomFreeper]

I suggest Obama not poke the Bear.

/johnny

[Second Amendment First]

There are also the Russian and Iranian questions. Both have invested a great deal in supporting al Assad. They might both retaliate were someone to attack the Syrian regime. There are already rumors in Beirut that Iran has told Hezbollah to begin taking Americans hostage if the United States attacks Syria. Russia meanwhile has shown in the Snowden affair what Obama clearly regards as a hostile intent. If he strikes, he thus must prepare for Russian counters. If he doesn't strike, he must assume the Russians and Iranians will read this as weakness.

Too late!

[HomeAtLast]

Obama’s caught pants down, and it looks like he won’t be able to grab that standby figleaf of “UN coalition.”

The gas attack was likely a ruse de guerre, a false flag ploy by the anti-Assad faction. Yet it’s blowing up in Obama’s face, nobody else’s. He’s on record as having said chemical warfare would not be tolerated or go unanswered.

Now he has to call the bet, and what’s he got left to toss in the pot? His Nobel prize?

[HomeAtLast]

Chemical warfare by Assad? Or Anti-Assad? Let’s ask Hillary who’s responsible...

“What difference does it make?”

[Second Amendment First]

Maybe Norway will call and want that prize back.

[Common Sense 101]

This POS hasn't been challenged his whole worthless, pathetic, unaccomplished life. He has been conditioned through self-delusion, liberal enablement, and a gutless GOP that everything he decides to do will be completed without push back. If he decides to do preemptively strike the Syrians, the Russians will slap this ignorant dumba$$ with a dose of reality he's never had to deal with in the past. Look for a barrage of finger-pointing at the military, advisors, allies, etc. from the POS and his sycophantic supporters in the press, regardless of what happens.

[Starboard]

When Obama proclaimed his red line on Syria and chemical weapons, he assumed the issue would not come up.

Domestically, Obama never has to worry about being called on a credibility issue. A compliant and friendly media protects him from that ever happening. He can say anything he wants and get away with it. Contradications and failures are never questioned.

But now he's said something on a stage where he is not so protected and has to deal with the fallout of his careless rhetoric that he has become accustomed to slinging about. This time the world is watching, not just his protective pals in the US media.

[Starboard]

the Russians will slap this ignorant dumba$$ with a dose of reality he’s never had to deal with in the past
********
In some respects, Russian credibility is also on the line. Do they just stand by and watch a client state, which harbors some of their own facilities, get slammed with a massive multi-day bombardment? Russians are not without some options of their own that could potentially hand the Kenyan a humiliating defeat.

Agree with you about the post-event finger pointing. Obama’s first instinct is to blame someone else. Its his only real skill.

[jch10]

He is all Hat. . . No Cattle......

He is more like “No hat and no cattle.”

[NurdlyPeon]

If he decides to do preemptively strike the Syrians, the Russians will slap this ignorant dumba$$ with a dose of reality he's never had to deal with in the past.

And if the Russians retaliate and it cost American lives, what is that REALLY to Obama? Even if he gets impeached, so what? He'll still have his millions, his black sycophants, his secret service protection for life, his pension, his medical, his speaking fees, etc. etc. etc. What does he care?

[pluvmantelo]

If he doesn’t have any cattle, where does all his b**ls**t come from?