He is still arguing that he doesn't need congressional approval, under the War Powers Resolution of 1973. He is consulting Congress only as a matter of courtesy.

Of course, that's what David Cameron said when he "consulted" with Parliament, and he embarrassingly lost by 17 votes. Oops.

I'm actually glad that Obama is taking it to Congress. That does sort of put the brakes on the President's war powers, which is a good thing. On the other hand, the President of the United States of America, the most powerful nation on the face of the earth, is showing that he really is an amateur in the field of diplomacy. And so is Secretary of State john Kerry, who seems to have finally given up on his inconsistent brand of pacifism.

Really, there just isn't any way for President Obama to come out looking good from all of this. If he loses the vote in Congress and calls off the strikes, no one will have any confidence in his "red lines" anymore. Iran and Hezbollah, among others, will be emboldened. And if he loses the vote and attacks anyway, he loses politically.

The best thing that could happen for him, is that he wins in Congress, which he may well do. But the opposition to the war will be bipartisan, so he won't be able to point fingers at the GOP.

Speaking of diplomacy, has anyone heard from the former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, lately? She's being strangely quiet about all of this, don't you think?

Onward and upward,
airforce