World leaders pressure Obama over Syria at G20 summit

We are a bad decision away from thermonuclear exchange.

CrazyJoe, that's a very sane, realistic statement.

I think it is more likely there will be another chemical attack very soon...it won't matter who does it...it will give Obama his Congressional resolution.

You re right Lizz. I see a false flag attack coming too.

" I see a false flag attack coming too."

Yes, ANOTHER false flag for the pre-planned "I told you so."

Syria's crisis reflects the incoherent foreign policy of the anointed one. The narcissist Obama is facing the reality check. He said to restore America's credibility and respect during the campaign, and now the world is doubting his leadership. To bomb or not to bomb Syria is a scratch on the surface of terrible things to come afterward resulting from big talk with little stick and naivety of his presidency. M.E. under the banner of various sect of Islam is experiencing bloodshed with no end in sight. Russia and China take advantage every turn with no interest of peace, except influence and oil money.

Obama has royally screwed up. He sent John Kerry out to beat the drums of war and the next day he chickened out. The President has isolated himself from the international community, America's closest allies, and with the impending defeat of his war resolution, the Congress of his own country. The only foreign leader backing him in any substantial way is the Prime Minister of France. He is in the process of losing the support of a large number of those of his own party. There will be a very high number of Democrats voting against him. Why? Because he got macho during his re-election campaign and talking off prompter drew a red line on chemical weapons. Yes, Obama drew that red line. The UN didn't - they are not asking for military action. In fact, the UN General Secretary has specifically come out against it. NATO is not calling for military action either. Obama is a cowboy with his finger on the button of a navy fleet loaded full of cruise missiles. He is completely out of his league. Assad and Putin are making him look like the amateur he is. It will take years for America to rebuild it's reputation after this debacle. In the meantime all Iran need do is sit back and watch dumbstruck at their luck.

Iran Plots Revenge, U.S. Says Officials Say Intercepted Message to Militants Orders Reprisals in Iraq if Syria Hit

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323893004579057271019210230.html

We can’t even define the mission, or a strategy, let alone what the end game is which is probably why the intelligence manipulations (how can so many govts not know they are being intercepted??) and communication doctorings can barely conceal the real mission of getting rid of Iran by first taking out Syria. If the Administration really wanted to deliver a counter blow to Iran, Hezbollah, axis it would have happened when the Syrian civil war began by giving weapons and training to reasonable elements of the Syrian resistance.

Iran already carries out murders on foreign soil. Not much of a change.

He should listed to his G20 peers. If he doesn't what is the point of G20 and UN and all the other hugely expensive international gatherings?

Obama is a non-entity. Before being elected president, he was a one-term senator who voted "present" (not yes or no) to most items which required bis vote. He introduced no legislation, he spnsored no legislation. Before becoming president, he was a professor of law, which is the usual occupation of well-educated but poorly-skilled would-be lawyers who don't have the ability to get a real job.

President Obama never worked a single day in the private sector. He never spent a day in the military. Prior to becoming president, he had never possessed a US passport, so his experience abroad was nil. Prior to being selected to run for senator and president, he had no leadership experience whatsoever.

He was elected because he looked cool, spoke well, and had a full head of hair. Unfotunately, like most politicians, he possesses more hair than common sense.

As he had no leadership experience, no foreign policy experience, no military experience, and no economic experience, is it any wonder why he can't lead well in any of these fields? Having worked for years in the never-neverland of academics, is it any surprise that he has trouble functioning in the real world?

Putin and the others know Obama well enough, they consider him to be so far below his job that he can't see the bottom of it. They will push, and Obama will waver. He will likely strike Syria, but it will be only a half-hearted strike which will kill many, and resolve nothing.

I vote in favor of bombarding Syria with executive branch members and any lawmaker that supports an attack. Putting Obama's, Biden's, Boehner's and Pelosi's boots on the ground in Syria would really change the narrative. (They're say they're brave enough to "go it alone," right?)

Jeff, I agree. Strap them to some bomb racks(no actual bomb, just rack) and off the wing stations they go. Chutes not needed as they are so full of ... hot air.

"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon later told the leaders over the dinner in a tsarist-era seafront palace that any military action must have the Security Council’s backing."

With Russia and China on the Security Council? Fat chance.

U.S. President Barack Obama faced growing pressure from Russia's Vladimir Putin and other world leaders on Thursday to decide against launching military strikes in Syria, which many of them fear would hurt the global economy and push up oil prices.

So they're doing this.............. because of oil.

Wait, wait, so which side is the one that only has oil in their mind again?

(So anything goes as long as the oil is there.)

So anything goes as long as the oil is there

It is clear where the priorities of China and Russia lie. It does not matter how many people die, are displaced or lose their livelihood. Just keep the oil flowing, It's the economy, st.... Funny that the two 'big' countries are the ones that have turned the security council into a joke, a very bad joke, a joke that kills the innocent.

"U.S. President Barack Obama faced growing pressure from Russia's Vladimir Putin and other world leaders on Thursday to decide against launching military strikes in Syria, which many of them fear would hurt the global economy and push up oil prices."

So what if some kids died from some horrible chemical attacks, and more kids will die in future chemical and conventional attacks, we can't have the price of oil going up!

Why does the US care more about what happens to foreigners than its own citizens or soldiers.

The World Leaders can pressure The United States all they want, but here's the bottom line: Banned Chemical Weapons were deployed by Bashir Assads forces under Assads direct orders. He is now a "War Criminal".

Russia, Iran, and China have ALL supplied Assad with ALL of Assads military arsenal. And they have backed and supported Assad by Vetoing Key Viotes at the UN in efforts by The U.S. to SANCTION The Assad Regime. Iran had no Vote, because Itan holds no Security Council Seat at the UN.

THIS makes Russia, Iran, AND China ALL Accesories to WAR CRIMES and CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

WE The United States WILL take action against Assad and his Murderous Regime - Alone if we have too - Coalition Preferred.

" Banned Chemical Weapons were deployed by Bashir Assads forces under Assads direct orders."

Of course, you have hard evidence of this, right? If so, present it to UN. If not ...

Iran already carries out murders on foreign soil. Not much of a change.

Certainly it is not like we didn't know that they're terrorist central for the Middle East but now that the news has 'leaked' it gives credibility to supporters of action in Syria who are talking about that red line as necessary to enforce to keep Iran in line. The bigger questions are what Mr. Obama would do if there is an attack and what would be the plan to end a potential tit-for-tat escalation of attacks and retaliation? Given the handling of the Syrian issue, there is much room for concern.

Obama speaking now. Looks like he's trying to convince himself. But pretty much no one is buying his spiel.

@sangetsu03

Obama is a non-entity. Before being elected president, he was a one-term senator who voted "present" (not yes or no) to most items which required bis vote. He introduced no legislation, he spnsored no legislation. Before becoming president, he was a professor of law, which is the usual occupation of well-educated but poorly-skilled would-be lawyers who don't have the ability to get a real job.

Obama very critical on the use of force in Iraq and felt that Iraq was the wrong war and that Afghanistan would be the country to take the fight and now as President, those chickens are coming home to roost. Now he wants congress and the world to support this action?

President Obama never worked a single day in the private sector. He never spent a day in the military. Prior to becoming president, he had never possessed a US passport, so his experience abroad was nil. Prior to being selected to run for senator and president, he had no leadership experience whatsoever.

This is the crux of the problem. The man has ZERO experience in running anything, ANYTHING, the country, the national debt, unemployment, international affairs, race relations...somebody stop me.

He was elected because he looked cool, spoke well, and had a full head of hair. Unfotunately, like most politicians, he possesses more hair than common sense.

He was the first Black president to be elected in the US. He was chosen for NOT being Bush, it didn't matter who ran, the people were tired, McCain didn't have a chance, the people wanted this cool, good-looking interesting guy, yeah, he has no experience, but we should give him a chance, he's different. So how is that "Hope and Change" coming along?

As he had no leadership experience, no foreign policy experience, no military experience, and no economic experience, is it any wonder why he can't lead well in any of these fields? Having worked for years in the never-neverland of academics, is it any surprise that he has trouble functioning in the real world?

The country is in ruins because of him and that decline will only accelerate that much faster if he pushes through with this assault on Syria.

Putin and the others know Obama well enough, they consider him to be so far below his job that he can't see the bottom of it. They will push, and Obama will waver. He will likely strike Syria, but it will be only a half-hearted strike which will kill many, and resolve nothing.

And could possibly pull Russia and Iran into the conflict and then what? Did Obama have a contingency plan should that scenario play out? Nope! Saw his pathetic speech just now. Obama is weak, he can't make the case, he is all over the place, the guy is an utter failure and joke, it's beyond embarrassing, it's starting to actually hurt.

What is happening in Syria is awful but I don't see any good that US strikes are going to accomplish. I haven't heard anybody articulate a good reason to attack. The "Economist" is saying that the US has to prove to the world that people who use WMD will be punished but the rest of the US allies can't seem to agree. I'm still sticking with "do nothing." Anybody care to reason otherwise?

Lizz: Certainly it is not like we didn't know that they're terrorist central for the Middle East but now that the news has 'leaked' it gives credibility to supporters of action in Syria who are talking about that red line as necessary to enforce to keep Iran in line. The bigger questions are what Mr. Obama would do if there is an attack and what would be the plan to end a potential tit-for-tat escalation of attacks and retaliation? Given the handling of the Syrian issue, there is much room for concern.

There's always going to be a concern when the ME is involved, unfortunately. If Iran attacks, the US would hit back and I'm sure they have plans for that. I hope it doesn't happen. But the fact is Iran can institute tit-for-tat attacks anytime they want to for any reason so that really hasn't changed. My guess is that Assad will launch a few missiles into Israel. Iran prefers a more indirect approach or they pay other people to do it for them.

I'm saying that this all seems to be leading up to the president's ultimate goal which is to create an incident that would bring Iran into the war. They will definitely get the job done through proxies, as is already happening in Iraq. But who knows, really ? Obama is in the worst of all possible fixes and the more he rambles on the worse it gets for him.

Saketown, get off your high horse. Both the US-backed rebels and the Syrian government are as bad as each other.

Lizz: I'm saying that this all seems to be leading up to the president's ultimate goal which is to create an incident that would bring Iran into the war.

I don't think anyone wants a war with Iran. I really do think Obama is reluctant to do anything in Syria as evidenced by the hands off approach for the past 2+ years. It would take a monumental incident for the US and Iran to start fighting, and we've been hearing about how the US intends to invade Iran for over a decade and we're no closer now. I think people see the level of hostility and thing fighting will follow but that usually isn't the case.