Obama Humiliates U.S. Over Syrian Debacle

A unrepentant President Obama trotted out Secretary of State John Kerry over the weekend to make the case for a military strike against the Syrian regime in a desperate attempt to save face after weeks of saber rattling failed to gain domestic or international support.

Obama miscalculated Americans' unrest over involvement in another war, misunderstood the reluctance of allies to support the U.S. attack on Syria and misread the reaction of even those in his party for a "go it alone" approach without congressional approval.

The president's grand strategy for a missile strike on Syria as punishment for President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons against his own people began to unravel after the British Parliament bucked the UK's prime minister and voted against intervention.

Parliament's decision not only robbed Obama of a staunch ally but it precluded the use of NATO forces because the United Kingdom is a member.  The United Nations was not an option either because Russia would veto any resolution on the use of force.

That left Obama dangling in the political winds, especially after polls revealed only nine percent of Americans favored military intervention in Syria.  Public opinion research also showed 80 percent of Americans wanted Obama to receive congressional approval before moving on Syria.

Surely, the politically savvy Obama must have known beforehand that Americans were dead set against  interference in Syria?  Perhaps, but the narcissistic Obama believed his own hype.  He thought his soaring rhetoric and international standing would ensure smooth sailing.  

When his effort fizzled, Obama panicked.  And for good reason.  He had already ordered the armed forces to prepare for a limited missile launch and maneuvered ships into position.  He had used the world stage to announce an attack was imminent, only the date and time were to be determined.

With American prestige in tatters, the president suffered another embarrassment.  He was reminded by Republicans and dovish Democrats that candidate Obama in 2007 had railed that the "president does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize" a military response.  Whoops!

So after arguing he clearly had the authority to order a strike, Obama flip-flopped.  At the eleventh hour, he decided he wanted the Congress to weigh-in on the issue.  It is clear his motivation is to help shield himself from political backlash by getting Republicans to support the strike.

The whole episode exposes Obama's naiveté when it comes to foreign affairs.  The president should have secured firm allied support before announcing to the world that America would use military force. Now he realizes too late that he waded in over his head and blundered badly in diplomacy.

That's why Obama has lobbed the political hot potato to Congress.  On principle, the Congress should reject Obama's request because he waited until the dye was cast to seek approval.  Obama hatched this plan and he owns it.  America's image cannot be repaired with the bandaid of Congressional support.