General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: That was pretty goddamned incoherent, frankly. [View all]Summer Hathaway
(2,770 posts)as you seem to be so well-versed in the matter.
Diplomatic avenues are always being pursued behind-the-scenes in these matters, despite the saber-rattling that takes place in public view.
Cameron has to know that. He had to know that a diplomatic course might at any time become viable, and that if that opportunity presented itself, Obama would pursue it.
Did Obama tell Cameron, "You've got to stand with me on this," thinking he'd leave him 'twisting in the wind' in the end? I sincerely doubt it. In fact, that idea is prepostoris.
Did Obama tell Cameron that he was pursuing, and was hopeful about, a diplomatic solution, but asked for Cameron's public support to make it clear to all concerned that he WASN'T fucking around should all diplomatic avenues be exhausted?
Thing is, I don't know what Obama told Cameron - or vice versa. And neither do you.
You want to assume that Obama left Cameron to swing in the wind - an act which would make absolutely NO sense whatsoever, and would be much to Obama's detriment.
The more common sense assumption is that Obama and Cameron BOTH know what's going on behind closed doors, and worked in concert to further a goal mutually beneficial to both.