Rational Nation USA

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Interesting possibility from the NEW REPUBLIC . This, apparently, is how diplomacy happens these days: Someone makes an off-hand remark at a press conference and triggers an international chain reaction that turns an already chaotic and complex situation completely on its head, and gives everyone a sense that, perhaps, this is the light at the end of the indecision tunnel. Speaking in London next to British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry said that perhaps the military strike around which the administration has been painfully circling for weeks could be avoided if Bashar al-Assad can "turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week. Turn it over, all of it, without delay, and allow a full and total accounting for that.” The fact that Kerry immediately followed with, “But he isn’t about to do it, and it can’t be don...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Always enjoy watching people trying to connect the dots. From Think Progress , the publication I usually always disagree with. Yuppers... Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny The adrenalin rush of the drums of war. From Barack Obama nonetheless! Just in from the Los Angeles Times . WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is preparing for a longer bombardment of Syria than it originally had planned, with a heavy barrage of missile strikes followed soon after by more attacks on targets that the opening salvos missed or failed to destroy, officials said. The planning for intense attacks over a three-day period reflects the growing belief in the White House and the Pentagon that the United States needs more firepower to inflict even minimal damage on Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, which have been widely dispersed over the last two weeks, the officials said. Two U.S. officers said the White House asked for an expanded target list in recent days to include many more than the 50 or so targets on the initial list. As a result, Pentagon planners are weighing whether to use Air Force bom...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Is part of the President's considerations in contemplating U.S. military intervention into the Syrian civil war the impact and possible consequences to our only true ally in the region, Israel? I would hope so, and perhaps he has. But given the history of reciprocal loyalty between our two nations it is reasonable to think any U.S. air strikes may have unintended consequences that would negatively impact our our ally. And result in loss of life in Israel as a result. From THE HILL . Israel is setting up its Iron Dome missile defense system outside of Jerusalem as violence continues in neighboring Syria. According to an Agence France Presse (AFP) report, the Israeli military is deploying a battery of the missile shield west of the city, signaling concern about threats from a possible Syrian attack The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quotes a military official who said that the likelihood is low that the count...

TPM - Hmm, What say you? Via: Memeorandum

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Lib e rty -vs- Tyr a nny Senator John McCain (R-AZ) Republican Senator John McCain, the RINO that he has turned into, has decided to oppose the Senate draft resolution on Syrian intervention because it doesn't go FAR ENOUGH in insuring America's continuing military posture in the region. Of course Mr. McCain claims he opposes boots on the ground but this is nothing more than political BS. For McCain it is quite likely the truth is " whatever it takes to topple Bashir al-Assad is his real position. And we all know how well that worked out for the nation on many fronts with Iraq, don't we? FOX News - Sen. John McCain, President Obama's biggest cheerleader on Capitol Hill for a strike in Syria, said Wednesday that he would not support a Senate panel's draft resolution authorizing the use of force -- forcing a key Senate panel to delay a vote. "There are a number of people who are unhappy," McCai...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A L i b e r t y -vs- T y r a n n y This is a day I have long waited for. A day that gives me great satisfaction. Reasoned and reasonable liberals and conservatives in a bi-partisan fashion have sent a strong and constitutionally correct signal to the President. Perhaps most rewarding for me is that these conservatives are finally acting like conservatives ought to be acting every time it comes to ordering military action against another sovereign nation. With extreme skepticism and caution. Liberals, to their great credit are "bucking" their party leader. Good news from both sides of the aisle. Perhaps the ultimate outcome will be as the President seems to favor. If the President listens to the peoples representatives , whether they give or withhold Congressional approval for intervention the people have won. Just as our Founders intended. Maybe this mood will take hold and last? Naw, not likely given the republican tendency to ...