Imperial Presidency

President Obama, Don’t Strike Syria, Especially Without Congressional Approval

"If President Obama can get us into war in Syria without prior Congressional approval, it will set a terrible precedent: A future president could get us more easily into war in Iran without prior Congressional approval. Tell President Obama and Congress: There must be no US military action in Syria without Congressional debate and authorization. Congress is out of session right now. But there is no emergency that requires immediate, unconstitutional, illegal action. If there were an emergency that required immediate action, Congress could be called back into session. If there's no emergency that requires immediate action, then action can wait until Congress reconvenes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPresident Obama, Don’t Strike Syria, Especially Without Congressional Approval

Obama invades Cyprus in order to NOT invade Syria

"I remember how devastated I felt as a young intelligence officer sitting in the Kuwaiti desert in early 2003 watching Colin Powell make the case to the United Nations for the invasion of Iraq. Most of the intelligence community at the time knew the case for war was totally bogus. And I remember my colleagues and I looking at each other asking, 'What WMDs are these people talking about??' It was obvious there was a hidden agenda very high up in the administration. Ten years later, the body count from the conflict exceeds 100,000 military and civilian casualties. Yet Iraq is a ‘free country’. And China is reaping the benefits, buying nearly half the oil that Iraq produces at nearly 1.5 million barrels per day." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama invades Cyprus in order to NOT invade Syria

U.S. ‘conferring with allies on potential punitive strikes’

"US officials declined to comment on whether the military action under consideration would go beyond the use of cruise missiles and require fighter aircraft to enter Syrian airspace. 'We’re exploring every option,' the official said. If the United States took no military action against Damascus, then it would send a dangerous signal to other regimes with chemical stockpiles, including North Korea, the official said. Citing North Korea, the official said 'what’s to say, as they (the North Koreans) watch this play out in Syria, they wouldn’t use weapons like this?' Obama’s aides were still working to define the precise objective of any potential intervention, a second administration official said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. ‘conferring with allies on potential punitive strikes’

Pepe Escobar: Obama set for holy Tomahawk war

"The 'responsibility to protect' (R2P) doctrine invoked to legitimize the 2011 war on Libya has just transmogrified into 'responsibility to attack' (R2A) Syria. Just because the Obama administration says so. On Sunday, the White House said it had 'very little doubt' that the Bashar al-Assad government used chemical weapons against its own citizens. On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry ramped it up to 'undeniable' - and accused Assad of 'moral obscenity'. So when the US bombed Fallujah with white phosphorus in late 2004 it was just taking the moral high ground. And when the US helped Saddam Hussein to gas Iranians in 1988 it was also taking the moral high ground." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPepe Escobar: Obama set for holy Tomahawk war

Congress Should Veto Obama’s War

"Who made Barack Obama the Wyatt Earp of the Global Village? Moreover, where is the evidence that WMDs were used and that it had to be Assad who ordered them? Such an attack makes no sense. Firing a few shells of gas at Syrian civilians was not going to advance Assad’s cause but, rather, was certain to bring universal condemnation on his regime and deal cards to the War Party which wants a U.S. war on Syria as the back door to war on Iran. The basic question that needs to be asked about this horrific attack on civilians, which appears to be gas related, is: Cui bono? To whose benefit would the use of nerve gas on Syrian women and children redound?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress Should Veto Obama’s War

Michael Scheuer: Observing King Obama’s Syrian madness, II

"General Keane responded that polls showing the strong and historically consistent non-interventionist beliefs of the American people should play no role in a U.S. president’s decision on an issue of national security. In essence, General Keane told Mr. Baier and all other Americans to be quiet, go home, eat a cookie, watch TV, and let the vaunted U.S. military and our interventionist, bipartisan governing elite do as they wish regarding war with Syria. These arrogant and self-proclaimed aristocrats always know what is best for a taxed-to-death riff-raff that is only needed every four years to elect someone running on a 'no war' platform that will be utterly and cynically discarded once the presidency is won." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: Observing King Obama’s Syrian madness, II

Lawmakers urge Obama to allow public debate on military action against Syria

"The United States is poised to launch a military strike on Syria in coming days after determining that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime used chemical weapons during an attack outside Damascus last week which killed hundreds of civilians. Several lawmakers sought to put the brakes on what Republican congressman Scott Rigell, who drafted the letter to Obama, said could be potential abuse of presidential authority if he decides to attack Syria without a congressional green light. Rigell and others are bristling at a possible executive order of use of force without the House and Senate weighing in, as was the controversial case in Libya." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawmakers urge Obama to allow public debate on military action against Syria

United States and allies build case for military action in Syria

"The ground for a military intervention was set out by US Vice President Joe Biden, who for the first time said last week’s attack, thought to have killed hundreds, could only have been perpetrated by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Britain joined the US in saying regime forces were behind the strikes, and Prime Minister David Cameron said London and its allies had to consider whether targeted military action was required to 'deter and degrade the future use of chemical weapons'. Senior officials in Washington told NBC news that possible strikes against targets in Syria could take place as early as Thursday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUnited States and allies build case for military action in Syria

Ron Paul Unfiltered; Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg takes on the NSA

"Ron Paul joins Larry to blast US government secrecy and talk about his new Web channel. Plus, have his supporters finally found peace with the GOP? Also, whistle-blower Daniel Ellsberg says the government is always watching... even while you sleep." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul Unfiltered; Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg takes on the NSA

Obama’s visit to Israel gets an official logo

[February 2013] "Netanyahu won a smaller than expected victory in elections in January. In the run up to the American elections last November, Netanyahu was perceived as favoring Republican nominee Mitt Romney for president. The office of Israeli President Shimon Peres announced Monday that Obama would be presented with the Presidential Medal of Distinction in March, according to the Guardian. It would recognize Obama's 'unique and significant contribution to strengthening the State of Israel and the security of its citizens.' The prime minister's official Facebook page offers these three choices for logos to represent Obama's visit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s visit to Israel gets an official logo