The Glade 4.0

Not really. The Syrian development is more like it falling into his lap. Dictators, particularly Middle Eastern ones have been remarkably immune to the reality of just how much firepower can be brought against them.

I'm sure that Obama always envisioned this sort of development as "that would be nice, but never going to happen" and not without good reason.

As for not listening to popular opinion, Sun Tzu probably wouldn't have either. Short-term decisions on national security ("what should we do about this problem, right now?", regardless of what problem is in question) really are not matters where popular opinion should get much weight. Popular opinion tends to be very emotion-laden on issues that are right there in front of you. Popular opinion belongs on long-term issues of defense, security, and foreign affairs and the nation's more general policy. This is one reason why the system of not popularly voting for the President was a good thing; when making decisions regarding the national interest, the President should not be pandering to emotion.

_________________
"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

Sometimes tools work out okay.

_________________
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

He must have ment Tzu = Putin. Because Putin is going to be the new power broker in the Middle East. Wonder how many Russian troops will be in Syria to secure Assads stockpiles? I also wonder how the missing munitions are going to be explained to the world? If it comes to pass that Obama was ready to Murrica' over a false flag, Putin gets to shove that in the US' s face for the next decade or so while looking like the peacemaker.

_________________
A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. ~ John Stuart Mill

I'm torn on the Russian angle. On the one hand, Putin is obviously a thug and Russia isn't exactly an exemplar of human rights and western/US values, so increasing Russia's influence in global affairs may make it harder to advance those rights and values in the future. On the other hand, though, the mere fact that Russia wants to look like a peacemaker, rather than just a self-interested and potentially aggressive force to be reckoned with, is a good thing. The more they act like a good-faith peacemaker on the world stage, the harder it will become for them to revert to aggressive realpolitik in the future because (i) expectations will have been raised and (ii) they'll be reluctant to sacrifice their reputational gains.

I agree, plus I'm all for someone else playing police in the cesspool that is the middle east.

This. Can we stop wasting lives and money on this bullshit? Let some other country be the Great Satan for once. I'm tired of it.

_________________

Holy shitsnacks!

The Soviets wanted to look like a peacemaker as well. So do the Chinese. Everyone wants them to look like a peacemaker. It doesn't make it any harder to resort to aggressive methods in the future, nor realpolitik. This is realpolitik on their part. It looks good for them to have something to berate America about, and it protects their S-300 sales. If in the future something else comes up, they will spin that how they want too.

_________________
"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

I will say this though, the more John Kerry speaks, the better I feel about voting for Bush.

_________________
I prefer to think of them as "Fighting evil in another dimension"

^ Yes

_________________

I really wish Putin was POTUS sometimes. That cavalier **** you attitude would be a super-welcome change of pace from the milquetoast wet rag we currently have.

_________________

This must be a joke. Obama is a walking "**** you." In his case, it's just directed towards the US Constitution and the rule of law.

_________________
“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

I can't believe you're criticizing the president. The freedom of speech doesn't allow you to be racist.

_________________
Buckle your pants or they might fall down.

If anyone thinks Putin would be anything other than ten times worse, they're smoking crack.

_________________
"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opini ... d=all&_r=0

A good read.

_________________
Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

It's better for what it doesn't say.

_________________
"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."