Obama once again is prevailing as the ultimate chess player, this time on Syria.

[RBInMaine]

This is sooooooooo fun, just watching this whole Syria thing play out.

First, we now have the typical war monger Republicans coming out AGAINST using force, NOT because they don't want to (of course they do as they never saw a use of force they didn't love), but because they want Obama to lose a vote, look like he fumbled a major foreign policy matter, and hope he will be damaged politically. So Obama has Republicans turning their backs on their military industrial complex puppet masters and everything they truly believe in because they are so drunk on hating him that they are willing to abandon themselves to try to hurt him politically. Just gotta love it. NOW it sets a new precedent: The TeaPubs can't war hawk the way they have before OR they will look like total HYPROCRITES yet again. And, the Congressional vote possibly turning down Obama's use of force request may not happen now that they may have a possible diplomatic path WHICH WAS ACTUALLY IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME, at least to an extent.

Next, the Russians are on the hook bigtime, and they better deliver or will eat crow in a huge way.

Next, the UN report shows the chemical attack happened and makes Assad look like a rotten liar. This will calcify international and domestic opinion against Assad and dramatically increase global pressure on him to follow through in giving up his chemical arsenal with UN verification and oversight.

Next, the President's televised speech was very good, informative, and swayed a great number of Americans who saw it toward his viewpoint and effectively assured Americans there would be no boots on the ground in this which is their biggest concern.

Next, with the threat of force remaining in place, it forces the diplomatic path and places real teeth in Assad's obligations. It must be there.

Next, if Assad doesn't follow through, authorization for a limited strike will become MUCH more popular.

No, war weary Americans do not want to inject themselves into another Middle Eastern civil war. They are worried about boots on the ground, costs, and whether or not there would be the desired results or a worsening of the situation. They want more international unity on this, which is now happening. And all those TeaPublicans, politicians and rank and filers alike, who oppose Obama on the air strikes will have to STICK TO THAT PRECEDENT regarding other situations or look like total fools once again. Just gotta love it. Obama didn't handle this perfectly, but in the end he will come out stronger and looking better on this (as Fareed Zakaria is already stating), and the R's will be again sucking their wounds. I have no doubts. The R's can't match wits with this chess master.

[doc03]

1. Don't worry Faux will say Putin is dictating foreign

policy.

[RBInMaine]

2. And only the TeaRadicals will listen. The threat of force forced the issue and the agreement.

[Leontius]

3. bullshit

[radiclib]

4. Wow!

What a cogent smackdown!

[jzodda]

5. The only bullshit I smell is coming from you vastly intelligent response.

[RBInMaine]

6. Now there's an "intelligent" response. Sheesh.

[Jakes Progress]

12. Yep. Bullshit.

Desperate and reaching bullshit.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. Sho' nuff, but of course, he won't get any credit.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

8. kick! rec!

Nicely stated.

[Skip Intro]

9. Wait a minute...

Obama argues for attacking Syria. Everybody screams, "hell no." Congress says no attack without our approval. Obama backtracks, says will wait to hear from Congress. Kerry argues for just one teeny little strike. Congressional votes are put off to keep from unveiling the "no" votes lying in wait.

Bam, Russia comes in with a non-attack solution. Everybody says, "ok, that's better." Obama tosses his plan, latches onto the Russian plan.

Obama seeks threat of force if coming UN resolution is not adhered to. Russia says, "no way." Obama abandons including a threat of force in the UN resolution.

You may see a masterful, nth-dimensional chess game where Obama, like some super hero, outsmarts everyone with his latest unfathomable master plan, but I think most people see the president of the US being batted around by Russia.

I mean, there's being faithful to the party and all, but there's also reality.

This is all good, we don't want anyone to attack anyone unnecessarily and without good cause. But a great plan from the beginning, with the US looking impotent and subordinate? Nah, it just ain't there.

[rug]

10. "This is sooooooooo fun, just watching this whole Syria thing play out."

what do you find to be more fun, chemical attacks or the Sixth Fleet maneuvering Tomahawk missiles into targeting positions?

[Jakes Progress]

11. Wanna play chess?

I don't think you know how the game works.

[former9thward]

13. Everyone of your assertions are wrong.

Obama was saved by Kerry's flip remark that Putin jumped and seized.

He will lose a war resolution by an even bigger margin that he would have lost the first one.

There is no international opinion against Assad that means anything and domestic opinion against Assad is not increasing.

More and more Americans and the world are being educated that the rebels are nothing more than al Queda stooges. No one is going to war for them despite your wishes. The civil war will continue until the rebels kill each other off.

[quadrature]

14. Assad is off the the hook. Everybody wins!

a victory for diplomacy.