It's a matter of trust.

[DearAbby]

I listened last night to the President's speech. I feel it must come down to trust. Do I trust Obama will do everything in his power to achieve the goal, that a strike would be the last resort?

Well look what he has achieved so far. Obama didn't have to lay down his hand, and seek approval of Congress, or the people. If he had wanted war,w e would already be dealing with the after effects.

Obama isn't Bush.

The threat was enough to bring both Putin and Assad to admit the weapons exist. Just the threat. Obama talking, but it's that big stick that is keeping the focus on the goal. People listening. He has already shown us he will avoid war, and try this diplomatically. Again if he had wanted war, he would have flat out rejected the latest attempts. I am going to have to trust President Obama, that he has the integrity of the man I voted for. It's a matter of trust.

[DearAbby]

1. This is also in the best interests of Russia

what are the chances, the US and Russia having common goals of getting those chemical weapons out of Syria? Neither side should be trusted to have control, Assad or the Rebels. Having Chemical weapons lose on Russia's flank could never be good for Putin. He has no reason to trust Assad would not use them again.

It could be a fresh step towards diplomacy between these two countries. Both leaders can come out looking well for their part of history. It would be a WIN WIN for all.

[Cha]

2. Thank you, Abby~

[DearAbby]

3. thank you Cha.

[Whisp]

4. Good post.

There is no one in all of politics that is as trustworthy. I think we are so used to the terrible, money grubbing dishonest leaders we just expect him to be like that too

but he isn't

And just imagine what could be done if he had more support, especially in Congress. Him having to fight those grotesque creatures every step of the way, every day, and then have 'democrats' rag on his ass every step of every day... oiy.

[Jamaal510]

5. Considering all of

his foreign (and domestic) accomplishments thus far, one would either have to be a liar or living in a cave to compare Obama to Bush ll. It all goes back to that one thread I saw yesterday about the box of chocolates, where the person throws out the whole thing just because there is one flavor they don't like.

[markiv]

6. he painted himself into a corner, and putin bailed him out

i once put 2 darts straight into the center of the bullseye

lucky shot, had almost no reflection on my ability at darts

[DearAbby]

7. He didnt paint himself into a corner

He wanted to open dialog re: chemical weapons use. The Red line was the world's red line. Putin would have never responded without that threat. Obama can achieve the goal without firing one shot. I would call that a win win for the world.

[markiv]

8. yes he did

it ended as a win/win, but the thanks go to putin, not obama

[DearAbby]

10. Talk to the hand dude...

you would crucify Obama no matter what he does, go do your Putin worship...but remember this pal...It was Assad and Putin who blinked. Think you are up to playing poker with Obama, because Assad and Putin folded.

[markiv]

11. lots of selling, but nobody's buying

the public sees this for what it was

[hfojvt]

9. unfortunately

he has spent four years proving that we cannot trust him.

Now for myself, I have not gotten terribly excited about Syria, or drones, or the NSA (except for the fact that they still haven't hired me (come on guys, 800 on the quantitative GRE (you know my number, give me a call)))

But, in general, this "I am going to have to trust President Obama, that he has the integrity of the man I voted for." seems sadly naive.

Although I am sure I can no more convince you of that, than I could back in 2005 with a Bush supporter. For some reason politics makes a lot of people just close their minds and they only get angry when you criticize "their guy".

But in another sense, some of the criticism does seem phony as Democrats criticized Bush for some things and then turned around and did the same damned things. Tax cuts for the rich are okay when our guy does it.

[kentuck]

12. Because it is in Russia's interest also...

The "rebels" may be very close to getting their hands on Assad's chemical weapons, if they haven't already? This is not something Putin would want in the terrorists' hands, because Russia could very well be a target as much as anyone else in the world. It is in his self-interest to get them under control. I think he is very serious in his negotiation with Obama. This is a very fluid and dangerous situation.

[Catherina]

13. +1 Especially with Bandar funding and arming Chechen terrorists n/t