Talk about dueling commentaries!
Think Defence is taking the position that the vote by the UK to not participate in Syria is no big deal and the special relationship continues (read it here).
Lexington Institute is taking the position that the special relationship died with the Syria vote and that it ended with a British whimper (read it here).
I don't know who's right, but I tend to lean toward the Lexington Institute position. The US is about to turn inward and if we do raise our head to become involved it will be with a clear understanding that OUR national security is at stake. That means the next time a European adventure is in the offing (think Libya 2) we will remind the UK of this vote. The difference? We can go it alone if necessary. The UK can't.
Think Defence is taking the position that the vote by the UK to not participate in Syria is no big deal and the special relationship continues (read it here).
Lexington Institute is taking the position that the special relationship died with the Syria vote and that it ended with a British whimper (read it here).
I don't know who's right, but I tend to lean toward the Lexington Institute position. The US is about to turn inward and if we do raise our head to become involved it will be with a clear understanding that OUR national security is at stake. That means the next time a European adventure is in the offing (think Libya 2) we will remind the UK of this vote. The difference? We can go it alone if necessary. The UK can't.
My understanding is the American people and congress want a congressional say so on US involvement on any such war.
ReplyDeleteObama might be furious, but how many 25* general equivalents have breathed a sigh of relief, and they are the sort of people who will around 4 years from now, not Obama.
thats the crazy thing about this. i know the military doesn't want this. but Obama is feeling pushed into the corner and he'll show his "manhood" just to prove how tough he is.
DeleteIf the Euros aren't going to do shit with Syria so close, why should we do anything unilaterally?
ReplyDeleteThe only corner Obama is in is one he painted himself into with his empty rhetoric.
well don't think i don't agree with you because i do. this is more europes problem then it is ours.
DeleteI lived for many years in Europe, love Europe but always piss me off how high and mighty they think they are with their superior history and morals, when we don't do anything, they bitch that we are weak and not doing anything and then when we do something, we are stupid and arrogant. Syria is probably more of a European problem just like Serbia/Kosovo was and they didn't do shit until US got involved. Europe had 3 freaking years to try some kind of peace talks/policy but they haven't done squat, somebody used chemicals, not sure who but they talk a lot but aren't ready to do anything about, good or bad! They just sit on their collective asses on the sidelines....
ReplyDeleteIt is a European problem, but Europe is in denial. When Syria ends, where will all the foreign fighters go? Back home in Europe? Also a lot a refugees will be washing a shore when payback and retribution starts. The ICC will be busy with war crimes.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like even the French are not going to help, they all just collectively decided to sit on their asses and leave the US to deal with this mess, nice going Europe....There's more than 2 million refugees, think they are all going to stay in Turkey and Jordan....
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