Free Republic

There's a must-read op/ed in today's Washington Post, authored by a retired Army Major General.  He draws on "dozens" of exchanges with active and retired military leaders to mount a case that Pentagon brass want no part of a Syria intervention.  He begins by analyzing Gen. Martin Dempsey's body language during Congressional hearings this week -- by far his least compelling argument.  Then comes the meat of his case.  Brutal: I feel confident that what follows represents the overwhelming opinion of serving professionals who have been intimate witnesses to the unfolding events that will lead the United States into its...

Those tasked with executing the strike on Bashar al Assad's regime in Syria were reportedly shocked when U.S. President Barack Obama announced Saturday that he wanted to seek Congressional approval first, according to Chris Lawrence with CNN. "The tempo went from 'go-go-go' to nothing," an unnamed defense official told CNN. "We were standing multiple watches. Everyone was pretty sure it was going to happen." With U.S. destroyers and submarines moored off the coast of Syria, battle stations manned, and fingers on the trigger of hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles, Obama reportedly changed his mind Friday evening on executing the strike...

US President Barack Obama has the authority to launch air strikes against Syria. But he has to notify lawmakers in Congress -- a process which has begun, according to both sides. "The administration is actively consulting with members of Congress, and we will continue to have these conversations in the days ahead," Kerry said Monday in a strongly-worded statement on Syria.