WASHINGTON — President Obama stunned the world and paused his march to war on Saturday by asking Congress to give him authorization before he launches a limited military strike against the Syrian government in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack.
In an afternoon appearance in the Rose Garden, Mr. Obama said he had decided that the United States should use force but would wait for a vote from lawmakers, who are not due to return to town until Sept. 9. Mr. Obama said he believed he had the authority to act on his own, but he did not say whether he would if Congress rejects his plan.
[…]
Officials said he is likely to win support in the Senate, where leading Republicans quickly issued statements welcoming his decision, but the House is more of an open question given its strong current of antiwar sentiment in both parties.
[…]
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/world/middleeast/syria.html?_r=0
On 2013-08-31, at 1:16 PM, Robert Naiman wrote:
>
> Once again, the Tea Party opponents of the Empire show how much more politically competent they are than the opponents of the Empire on the Left. One thing you don't see in the Tea Party is prominent voices saying that Congress doesn't matter, the Constitution doesn't matter, the War Powers Resolution doesn't matter, Congressional debate and vote don't matter.
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: The Hill <news at thehill.com>
> Date: Sat, Aug 31, 2013 at 11:06 AM
> Subject: News from The Hill: Tea Party takes lead on Syria
> To: naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
> News from The Hill:
>
>
> Tea Party takes lead on Syria
> By Julian Pecquet
>
> Tea Party Republicans have taken the lead in raising concerns about the Obama administration's march toward military strikes against Syria.
>
> A letter to President Obama from Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.) demanding that Congress have a say gathered 140 signatures – a third of all House members – including 21 Democrats, propelling the second-term back-bencher to national prominence.
>
> Tea Party leaders in the Senate have also been out front. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Obama's interest in “saving face” wasn't “enough reason to go to war.” And a tweet from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) calling it “unacceptable” that the British Parliament would have a vote but not Congress got retweeted more than 2,500 times.
>
> “Why don't Pres Obama & leaders in Washington want Congress to vote on attacking Syria? Because the vote would fail,” tweeted Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), another congressman who rode into Congress on the Tea Party wave of 2010.
>
> The talk of war in Syria has offered Tea Party lawmakers a unique chance to position themselves as the voice of reason on national security – with potential benefits for Paul should he run for president in 2016.
>
>
> Read the story here.
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