Obama and War: How Long? How Much Money? By What Authority?

[Purveyor]

By Jonathan Allen Sep 10, 2014 12:00 AM ET

President Barack Obama is ready to announce his strategy for dealing with the Islamic State. The trick will be getting the American public, Congress and allies abroad to sign on.

Obama benefits from a consensus in Washington that it’s time -- if not past time -- to start a broader campaign to debilitate the terrorist group that has gained control of a swath of Syria and Iraq.

Still, when Obama speaks from the White House at 9 p.m. local time today, Americans will want to hear why a president who campaigned on getting out of Iraq wants to re-engage militarily, and what it will cost.

“What people want to hear is an explanation of all the elements of a plan to degrade and defeat ISIS,” Representative Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said in an interview, referring to Islamic State by an alternate name. “I hope the president uses this as an opportunity to let people know you can’t do that in 24 hours, you can’t do that by dropping a couple of bombs.”

The administration is considering steps including moves to block foreign fighters from entering Syria and Iraq, delivering more aid to moderate factions among Syrian rebels and expanding air strikes to Islamic State targets in Syria.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-10/obama-s-task-rally-u-s-public-allies-in-terror-fight.html

[earthside]

1. I'm against it.

And in a fifteen minute speech, Pres. Obama really won't be convincing anyone to be for more war except those that already want more war.

The U.S. cannot afford another war; we don't need more entanglements with Arab nations; we don't need a reintroduction into Iraqi politics; we don't need to be dropping bombs in a major campaign in another sovereign country (Syria); we don't need to be doing the job of other Arab countries; etc.

Bush/Cheney started this mess -- Pres. Obama should state that strongly and categorically and then tell us why we (the U.S.) are not going to let ourselves be drawn into some 'grand coalition of the willing except we pay for it" and that's that.

But we all know what is going to happen this evening -- we are going to be back in the swamp of war and death and destruction in the Middle East, again.

[Doctor_J]

2. Nothing ever changes much

consensus in Washington that it’s time -- if not past time -- to start a broader campaign to debilitate the terrorist group that has gained control of a swath of Syria and Iraq.

Sounds like Grumman and Raytheon and GD and Xe are waddling up to the trough again. Hard to believe they spent all of the money they got over the last two decades, but obviously they need more.

[SnakeEyes]

3. I'm conflicted.

I'm not a pro-war hawk, I don't want us involved in the ME again, but having seen how evil ISIS is and the caliphate goals I'm conflicted. If this were 3 years ago when the caliphate was only the insane ramblings of Glenn Beck and they weren't slaughtering people by the thousands I'd be like hell no. But nobody saw this coming.

[KoKo]

4. That's the worry... After 13 years...."nobody saw this coming?"

The Best and the Brightest of Military/NSA/CIA/Think Tanks/NGO's and the rest....and "nobody saw this coming?"

There were many who saw it coming. And, there were plenty on the Left, in the Anti-War Movement that grew out of our going into Iraq based on lies about WMD. There were plenty here on DU and out in the Reporting community (not NYT/WaPo) but other news outlets who knew that there would be "Blow Back" when we saw what was going on in Iraq.

But those NeoCons are following the Project for a New American Century to the letter. And the countries they wanted Regime Change in have all fallen except Syria and Iran.

I feel conflicted, also. Although, imho, ISIL threat here is overblown and their theatrics seem exaggerated by our MSM....it does look like a "Monster" has been created because of our US Policy Actions under both Repubs and Dems.

So...we broke it and now we own it and need to fix it. But, if the policies of our best minds helped create ISIL then how can we believe that their newest strategy isn't going to make things worse and drag us deeper into unending war which we can't afford even if we find a few "coalition of the dragged in." It's the same people calling for extended war who got us into this in the first place. And...we know the bottom line is that it's about protecting Oil Interests, Israel and our Military Industrial Complex who feeds off endless war.

It's a tough call....

[blkmusclmachine]

5. Bill Clinton: What is the definition of "is"???