Old “Heelspur Donald” is a coward using other’s bravery, and lives, for his own vile purposes. Hopefully he’ll follow his mentor, Cheney. Only by sharing in Cheney’s cardiac history.
”It is a remarkable fact about the US Constitution,” Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith wrote Friday morning at the blog Lawfare, “that 228 years after its creation, we still don’t know what limits, if any, it imposes on unilateral presidential uses of military force.”
And in 2013, when it was discovered that Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians in violation of international law — crossing President Obama’s famous “red line” — the administration weighed whether that test applied to a potential strike against Assad as well.
It decided that it did: that protecting an international norm against the use of chemical weapons, among other things, was an important national interest. But it decided, just like it later would in 2015, to ask Congress for approval anyway — because the administration knew it would be setting a precedent by not getting an AUMF, and that was a precedent it didn’t want to set. As Clinton administration official Walter Dellinger told the New York Times at the time, “[W]hen the president is going beyond where any previous president has gone, it seems appropriate to determine whether Congress concurs.”
The whole thing turned out to be moot when Russia persuaded Assad to give up his chemical weapons in exchange for the US backing away from using military force (something it’s now tragically clear that Assad didn’t fully do). Now, in 2017, President Trump has decided to do what President Obama did not.
Wow, have to be totally amazed at these comments. Some blasting Trump for acting against Syria, some trying to credit Obama for the attack, some implying the gassing was staged and the bombing was faked, some saying the others just saying we shouldn’t have attacked. Trump would have definitely been blasted by the left, if he had done nothing like Mr. Obama did with his red line in the sand. I guess the snowflakes just have to Hate, no matter how many children were killed by Sarin gas.
Trump really showed Assad. It took hours to patch the runway & get back to bombing civilians Lester never cared about until it was politically convenient.
SCRATCHY, Gorsuch’s dissent that said a truck driver should have been fired for leaving a trailer with locked brakes while he was driving in 20 below temp is typical of his anti-labor views. Ivanka has ZERO experience and knowledge of her “job” which was invented, and when her imported products were dropped because they didn’t sell, Donald threw a hissy fit. Haley was confirmed as UN ambassador easily, and she wasn’t responsible for missiles, so I don’t know what you’re talking about with “attacks” on her.
.Almost all of Trump’s nominees don’t know anything about their posts and some actively work against what the departments are supposed to protect. Pruitt from EPA has even sunk so low that he thinks using asbestos is great.
Mike Lester, you are truly ignorant of history and facts. President Obama had everything planned out and was prepared to act on his “red line” ultimatum. He chose to run it by Congress first for approval who rejected the action. Exactly where did Obama fail ? .. By wanting confirmation by Congress or by heeding Congress’s wishes ?
jorgen Premium Member about 7 years ago
President Trump probably asked himself: what would the pajama-boy-president do? Doing the opposite will always be the right thing to do.
Say What Now‽ Premium Member about 7 years ago
It’s almost as if this was all staged to make the Rump look stronger. Maybe he was taking lessons from Putin.
ahab about 7 years ago
Old “Heelspur Donald” is a coward using other’s bravery, and lives, for his own vile purposes. Hopefully he’ll follow his mentor, Cheney. Only by sharing in Cheney’s cardiac history.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member about 7 years ago
Lester doesn’t know that the plan was drawn up during Obama’s administration.
PainterArt Premium Member about 7 years ago
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/4/7/15217832/aumf-trump-syria-congress
”It is a remarkable fact about the US Constitution,” Harvard Law School professor Jack Goldsmith wrote Friday morning at the blog Lawfare, “that 228 years after its creation, we still don’t know what limits, if any, it imposes on unilateral presidential uses of military force.”
And in 2013, when it was discovered that Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons against Syrian civilians in violation of international law — crossing President Obama’s famous “red line” — the administration weighed whether that test applied to a potential strike against Assad as well.
It decided that it did: that protecting an international norm against the use of chemical weapons, among other things, was an important national interest. But it decided, just like it later would in 2015, to ask Congress for approval anyway — because the administration knew it would be setting a precedent by not getting an AUMF, and that was a precedent it didn’t want to set. As Clinton administration official Walter Dellinger told the New York Times at the time, “[W]hen the president is going beyond where any previous president has gone, it seems appropriate to determine whether Congress concurs.”
The whole thing turned out to be moot when Russia persuaded Assad to give up his chemical weapons in exchange for the US backing away from using military force (something it’s now tragically clear that Assad didn’t fully do). Now, in 2017, President Trump has decided to do what President Obama did not.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 7 years ago
Wow, have to be totally amazed at these comments. Some blasting Trump for acting against Syria, some trying to credit Obama for the attack, some implying the gassing was staged and the bombing was faked, some saying the others just saying we shouldn’t have attacked. Trump would have definitely been blasted by the left, if he had done nothing like Mr. Obama did with his red line in the sand. I guess the snowflakes just have to Hate, no matter how many children were killed by Sarin gas.
Uncle Joe Premium Member about 7 years ago
Trump really showed Assad. It took hours to patch the runway & get back to bombing civilians Lester never cared about until it was politically convenient.
Nantucket Premium Member about 7 years ago
SCRATCHY, Gorsuch’s dissent that said a truck driver should have been fired for leaving a trailer with locked brakes while he was driving in 20 below temp is typical of his anti-labor views. Ivanka has ZERO experience and knowledge of her “job” which was invented, and when her imported products were dropped because they didn’t sell, Donald threw a hissy fit. Haley was confirmed as UN ambassador easily, and she wasn’t responsible for missiles, so I don’t know what you’re talking about with “attacks” on her.
.Almost all of Trump’s nominees don’t know anything about their posts and some actively work against what the departments are supposed to protect. Pruitt from EPA has even sunk so low that he thinks using asbestos is great.
Nantucket Premium Member about 7 years ago
Syrian military evacuated the base and moved military equipment before strike. Gee, I wonder how they knew it was going to happen?
DrDon1 about 7 years ago
Lester: This missile attack resolved the Syrian crisis by doing??? [ You might accomplish more by buying paint remover! ]
Addled Brain about 7 years ago
Mike Lester, you are truly ignorant of history and facts. President Obama had everything planned out and was prepared to act on his “red line” ultimatum. He chose to run it by Congress first for approval who rejected the action. Exactly where did Obama fail ? .. By wanting confirmation by Congress or by heeding Congress’s wishes ?
Mr. Blawt about 7 years ago
so the way to draw a red line is to ignore the congress?
Durak Premium Member almost 6 years ago
So, a year has passed since your portrayal of the BOLD, DECISIVE Mr. Donald, as compared to the weak, wishy washy Barry.
I need to ask, is Mr. Donald really your idea of a strong leader?