Obama at G20 Summit: 'I Was Elected to End Wars, Not to Start Them'

[DonViejo]

PHILIP BUMP 10:25 AM ET

"I was elected to end wars, not to start them," President Obama said at the G20 economic summit in St. Petersburg on Friday. But, he explained, action in Syria was warranted, whether or not international allies help. "The question is: Do these international norms mean something?" Obama announced that he would make his case for action in Syria in a speech to Americans next Tuesday. His effort to convince the world leaders at the summit, however, appears to have not made much progress.

Obama said:

I would greatly prefer working through international channels to get this done. But ultimately, what I believe in even more deeply, is … that when there's a breach this brazen of a norm this important, when the international community is frozen and doesn't act, then that norm begins to unravel. And if that norm unravels then other norms start unraveling. And that makes a more dangerous world.

The president described where international agreement begins and ends. At a dinner between the leaders in attendance — representing leaders of major economies in Europe from around the world — Obama described the response to this argument.

full article:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/09/obama-talks-about-syria-g20/69125/

[IrishAyes]

1. I keep wondering

how many people remember WWII at all when I hear the president's opponents like Alan Grayson (whom I formerly liked) ask what does this have to do with us? Sorry, but I must wonder if Grayson doesn't care because this time it's Arabs instead of Jews. Would Grayson have had the same reaction 65-70 years ago? I think not.

[Parable Arable]

3. In regards to Grayson..

He's one of my favorite congressmen, and I think he's a very valuable member of the Democratic party. I agree with him that the US shouldn't intervene in Syria, but I believe he's protesting on the wrong grounds. I don't think the "This has nothing to do with us" argument carries much water given the nature of the US as a superpower. In contrast, Sanders is protesting intervention on the grounds that we need to use that money for domestic issues, and I think that's a much more valid criticism of Obama's desire to intervene.

[Cha]

5. Yes, Sanders has a much more credible reason for not holding Assad accountable

for his atrocities.

But, the reason we haven't been able to use any money for domeestic issues lies solely with the gop.

[Parable Arable]

7. I agree that flushing out the GOP is priority number 1....

That being said, I do support Grayson's idea of primarying Democrats, but only in states where a Democrat is assured a victory regardless. To do that in Texas or Virginia would be idiotic.

[IrishAyes]

6. I seriously doubt that intervention is the heart's desire of the President.

Regardless of whether he eventually deems it necessary. Bernie Sanders is more of a polished gentleman (not to mention older) than Grayson, whose spitfire personality can lead him over the edge a bit now and then. Goes with the territory I suppose. But it also makes him less viable or worthy of a future presidential candidacy, and in this case I still question his motives for those statements.

When I'm not privy to the deepest intelligence the WH possesses, and remembering the Holocaust all too well, I'm always going to lean towards trusting the judgment of an ethical, deliberate, practical, long range strategist over just about anyone else no matter how persuasive they might be. Sometimes it's a curse seeing both sides of an argument, but eventually I have to make a choice - and like most people, my choices tend to follow a certain trajectory.

[Parable Arable]

9. " it also makes him less viable or worthy of a future presidential candidacy"

If we're talking about Bernie, I'd say he's too old and too left to get elected. People here are always clamoring for a "real progressive" to run, but it doesn't mean a damn thing even if they did get elected. The way the population is, a president invariably moves to the right. And in there lies the problem. Get the people to advocate for progressive legislation BEFORE we start clamoring for a progressive president. Honestly, I feel like a ton of people here assume that the country is a whole is more liberal than it actually is.

As for Grayson. I really do appreciate the job he's doing, and would love to see him move up to a position of authority. But his talk about "guts" doesn't mean a damn thing if the electorate you're working with is literally uninterested in doing it's job.

[IrishAyes]

10. You seem to imply

that I fall into the category of your last sentence. Not so. While I do consider Mr. Grayson too short-sighted and bombastic for the Oval Office, that doesn't mean I don't want to see him rise to his full potential. I simply no longer think that necessarily includes the very top post.

When you can stand directly and openly in opposition to dangerous groups like the Klan and crazy teabaggers - I mean face to face in public as I have, in the worst infested parts of the country - then perhaps you might earn the right to lecture me on fulfilling my own civic duties. Until then, it would be more appropriate for you to resist.

[Parable Arable]

11. I apologize

If my comment was perceived as offensive. I assure you, I had zero intention of marginalizing your experience or implying that you hold any negative feelings about opposition to this president within the party. My comment about Grayson was a musing rather than one directed to anyone, right hand to god. And yes, I have to agree that given how he negotiates and speaks, that he wouldn't necessarily be the ideal president .. Still holding out for Feingold in 2016, even if that's the biggest pipedream though.

[IrishAyes]

12. Thanks. You have a free apology waiting in the wings for when I accidentally

step on your toes. As I surely will, given the untold number of times I must have ruffled everyone's feathers w/o realizing it.

I'm terribly fond of Russ Feingold too, even though I hold out zero hope for his presidential chances. But he would make a fine one indeed, were it possible. I take his newsletter, as well as Bernie's and yes, Grayson's. Another person who impresses me favorably is Al Franken. I knew he has a genius IQ, but from what I hear, he's surprisingly a policy wonk.

While I actually do hold negative feelings about the attitude of some within the party who oppose President Obama's policies, my main concern for the purposes of this discussion is its possible misplacement. We're a mite touchy about questioning President Obama in this room, dedicated as it is to support of his policies.

And I doubt we'd mind so much if it weren't for the regular - indeed, increasing - malodorous dumps from persons of questionable character. I say 'questionable character' because when they knowingly barge in uninvited and unwanted to dump here while they have the rest of the website and internet to vent, that says more than enough about their ethics; more likely, lack of same. Specifically, I DON'T MEAN YOU! I couldn't necessarily say that every last one of us in this group march in absolute lockstep with the WH. What we do zealously is stand in solidarity on the principle that we have an invioable (sp?) right to a room to celebrate President Obama's accomplishments in peace, absent the rabid vitriol that permeates other places. We deserve that much, and so does the President.

[Cha]

2. I Hope Assad is getting all this ..and stops his damn chemical bomb

dropping.

mahalo DonViejo

[sheshe2]

4. The response to The Presidents arguement.

From your link.

It was a unanimous conclusion that chemical weapons were used in Syria. There was a unanimous view that the norm against using chemical weapons has to be maintained, that these weapons were banned for a reason and that the international community has to take those norms seriously. I would say the majority of the room was comfortable with our conclusion that the Assad government was responsible for their use.

Obviously this is disputed by President Putin. But if you polled the leaders last night, I'm confident you'd get a majority that said it is most likely that the Assad regime used them.

I hope that Assad backs down. This is a terrible situation.

Thanks for bringing it here Don.

[IrishAyes]

8. Everyone watch President Obama's public address on Tuesday.

If you miss any other, don't miss this one.