As confusing as that address was

[Harmony Blue]

... I am just glad that war has been averted for now.

[NYC_SKP]

1. He did say we aren't the world's police force and that he knows it's important to include Congress.

That's more goodness than Bush had to say in all his 8 horrible years.

[whatchamacallit]

2. Words are cheap.

[jazzimov]

4. Agreed - but he's backing it up

with his actions.

[BlueStreak]

3. I guess that's something. Now how about we include Congress in what the NSA is actually up to?

[jazzimov]

5. They are. nt

[BlueStreak]

7. No they aren't. Only a few get real briefings

and almost none of them see the budgets.

And even when they do get data, the NSA simply lies and there is nothing Congress can do about it.

Other than those points, I guess we are in complete agreement.

[DJ13]

6. So lets close many of our "police stations" around the world?

[mick063]

8. The only thing that stopped the heavily lobbied attack was the American people speaking out early.

The one and only thing. Make no mistake about that.

We are collectively wising up. Bush's WMD scare tactics in Iraq changed the way we perceive the "War Declarer in Chief" title that the executive branch has become.

We can thank the British House of Commons for planting the dissent seed in our minds.

Congress has delayed the vote pending a proposed plan to be laid out by Putin and Assad. Meanwhile, the Saudi led Gulf States, as well as Israel, are fuming. They will continue to exert pressure on the administration to escalate the conflict. The President will promise them he will entertain an attack if Putin doesn't offer a significant, verifiable reduction in Syrian chemical weapons. He will also direct them to apply pressure to Congress instead as it is partially "out of his hands". In short, we aren't out of the woods yet.

I expect the following to happen:

Putin, knowing that the President does not have full backing of the American people, will offer less than satisfactory terms (as interpreted by the administration). The President will take this to Congress and lobby hard for a yes vote to attack. Israel and the Gulf States will exert pressure on Congress as well.

It will end up to what it was less than a week ago. Congress under pressure from two angles, the constituents and opposing lobbyists to make a decision. Congress backs down and votes no. All eyes immediately turn to the President again. What will he do? Declaring that Putin did not offer enough could very well be perceived as another variation of the "Red Line". In other words, painting himself into a corner for the second time.