Liberal Free Chat Zone

[incubus-now]

John Kerry blames British Parliament for derailing US plans to strike Syria 
(classic leading from behind again. fits the lib 'orientation'.)

Raf Sanchez, Middle East correspondent
6 January 2017 • 2:19pm

The British Parliament’s vote against bombing Syria derailed America’s own plans to use force against the Assad regime in response to its use of chemical weapons, John Kerry has said. 
It has long been speculated that Barack Obama backed away from his plan to strike Syria because of David Cameron’s defeat in the House of Commons in 2013, but the outgoing US Secretary of State confirmed it officially in a farewell press conference.

Asked about the moment Mr Obama decided not to enforce his “red line” against the use of chemical weapons in Syria, Mr Kerry said on Thursday that the British vote meant the US President felt he had no choice but to secure approval from the US Congress. 

“The President decided that he needed to go to Congress because of what had happened in Great Britain,” Mr Kerry said. 

“We were marching towards that time when, lo and behold, on a Thursday of a week before the Friday decision, Prime Minister David Cameron went to Parliament … he sought a vote of approval for him to join in the action that we were going to engage in. And guess what? The Parliament voted no. They shot him down.”

Parliament voted 285-272 against the strikes in August 2013. 
Mr Obama’s decision to try to secure Congressional approval for strikes drastically slowed down what appeared to be a rapid march towards war. 

While the White House was lobbying members of Congress to vote in favour, a deal was struck in which the Assad regime agreed to give up its chemical weapons. In the end the US did not launch any strikes. 

The dramatic weeks in the summer of 2013 were a defining moment in Mr Obama’s presidency. 

Critics both in the US and in the Middle East said the failure to enforce “the red line” shattered America’s credibility and encouraged adventurism by America’s enemies. 

They argue that Russia’s decision to annex Crimea the following year was informed by it and that the Assad regime was emboldened to carry out atrocities against civilians in Syria.

Mr Obama and his supporters argue that the credible threat of military intervention forced Mr Assad into giving up his chemical arsenal, removing the danger that the weapons might fall into the hands of terrorists. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/06/john-kerry-blames-british-parliament-derailing-us-plans-strike/

The difference is Cameron is required to go to Parliament. BO was the Commander and Chief and didn't have to as demonstrated throughout his terms. Excuses are like aholes, everyone has one.... They still used chemical weapons and let Putin have the open door to the region, first time since 1970ish....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/06/john-kerry-blames-british-parliament-derailing-us-plans-strike/