The 'blitz-krieg' during the August break of most parliaments seems to be stopped. The British government suffered an enormous blow when even a provisional 'we might take action, but we will consult you again first' was rejected tonight.
The speed with which some governments wanted to rush into action against Syria, sacrificing facts over decisiveness, seems to have been motivated by the summer recess of parliaments / congress.
However the British parliament hastily convened today and the Cameron government was defeated by a combination of labour opposition and their own party members.
Likewise the Dutch parliament came back from recess and decided they first wanted to the see the evidence of the gas attack in Syria before deciding on possible support for military intervention.
The US congress (also on recess until sept. 9) was briefed today by the White House but meanwhile members of both parties signed a letter stating it would be unconstitutional to attack Syria without consulting congress.
France where the president doesn't have to consult with parliament nevertheless will see a meeting between government and parliament on Sept. 4. A date which would conflict with the original US plans to strike within a few days.
Polls in most Western countries show no support for a military intervention in Syria and the attempt to strike before representatives of the people could gather seems to have failed.
The momentum for a military strike before the facts and reports by the UN are in seems to be gone for the already fragile international coalition.
Good day for democracy or a shame that governments tried to rush into military action just to keep their parliaments out the loop?
This post is a follow up to US intelligence unsure about chemical weapon facts Syria https://plus.google.com/u/0/112352920206354603958/posts/iZAgdXeZrsw
Amazing.. Will see what Australia does today 🙂 +Kevin Rudd was all mad for blood over the past 2 days.
Thank god (not in a religious way more a catch phrase but the meaning still stands)
I listened to a lot of the debate in the HoC today, good points being made on both sides. Lots of fear of 'another Iraq' though, which i suspect swayed it more than weighing up the situation on its own merits.
Already a good day for public opinion (not so naive) in many countries !
It's not over yet. Democracy is no deterrent in this game.
I assume you mean 'no obstacle' +Brendan Thesingh ?
I would call this good news.
I hope we keep this up. I have no desire to see us attack yet another country. Especially with what I am convinced was a false flag attack by Al Qaeda.
Thank God is right!!
I know it's not over … I choose to celebrate "simply" today 🙂
Yip +Jo Anne Thomas it's not over yet, but every step in the right direction should be celebrated. If the representatives of the people of this 'coalition' ask questions first, shoot maybe later, the world gets slightly more sane.
Twerps like Cameron and Clegg have been sat on their wobbly arses doing nothing about this for months, when suddenly they get orders that O'Barmy has received from whoever it is that owns him, and they start ranting about proportionate, legitimatised, weaponificationalisation and similar tripe, which means we are definitely going to attack another country and kill thousands of people.
http://walrus.blog.co.uk/2013/08/29/today-in-parliament-episode-16345523/
There are over one million Syrians in Refugee Camps
Why don't we help them out, and stay out of the fighting?
And suddenly and to late the people in Syria gets the attention they deserve. I hope it will not be with bombs. There have been to much of bombing and killing already.
I agree with the decision not to get involved, and I do so for selfish reasons …
1 – It's a civil war, none of our business. We can't pick and choose which country, which regime, which civilian population to help and which to turn a blind eye.
2 – Even if in due course the UN agrees to military action, then let some of the other countries get involved for a change. We are not the world's Police. Let other countries pay [in blood and money] to remedy someone elses problem
It's pretty obvious Cameron has had his orders from O'Barmy and thought he could do what Bliar did, and rush us into killing thousands of civilians, but not so fast!
In spite of Clegg going to sleep, Miliband stopped Cameron.
http://walrus.blog.co.uk/2013/08/29/today-in-parliament-episode-16345523/
many thanks +Max Huijgen good news !
The worst bit is that the Carlyle Group isn't publicly traded, so we can't even benefit with the perpetrators
Sanity wins the day. What a relief to know that thinking people have made a stand . Obama does not have all the answers to every problem, which I am sure cause him no loss of sleep. Going to war will not allow him to hide behind the problems he is facing in the USA. The Bush family have exhausted that method of self presevation. Maybe he can still save face, by creating a real health care plan for low paid or the un-employed. Time will tell which he chooses.
chickens
"Slightly more sane' is welcome whenever or wherever heads stay on shoulders where they belong.
It will be interesting to see how long civil conflict lasts now in Syria, we can wonder what would have happened if military intervention had occurred. Will Syria now become stronger and perhaps form a strong alliance with Iran to stop any future Western interventions? If war does occur in the future will it be more drawn out because things were not nipped in the bud?
Quote from unnamed Syrian before UK military action was blocked: "Since we heard about the international community's will to do these strikes, all the people in our town are feeling for the first time that someone out there is caring about them."
As usual, very interesting article and comments here from Charles Stross.
http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2013/08/on-syria.html
Also it's one of the first times I've seen Tony Blair described as "Criminally insane" re this.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10267283/Tony-Blair-military-intervention-in-Syria-vital-to-prevent-breeding-ground-for-extremism.html
IMHO, It is important that attempted chemical warfare is stamped on and prevented (pour encourager les autres). It's also important that humanitarian efforts are made to try and resolve the civil war and help the civilian population. And it's important that the area from Egypt to Turkey is stabilised. But all that is just saying "something must be done" when all possible somethings have huge downsides for the West and UN as well as Russia and China. So while it's tempting to just isolate Syria and let them burn themselves out, you have to recognise that large numbers of innocent people will suffer in the process. There's no rational way out for them or us, so "Do Nothing (for the moment)" is as good a strategy as any other and at least it doesn't feed and escalate an already bad situation too much.
Refugee aid for Turkey and the other surrounding countries, distribution of hazmat suits and anti-nerve gas kits, diplomatic efforts in all directions, defensive support for at-risk locations outside Syria. All that seems sensible. But missile and bomb strikes on Syrian targets, not so much.
LOL "Criminally insane" I love it.
Such bullshit. The last time Congress was consulted to declare war was 1942. Presidents have been sending young soldiers to their death without giving Congress a sniff of their piss ever since.
I love the brits, you screw with them, (Like Obama has done) and they will get you back, in public and make a total ass out of you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Great Job my cousins from across the pond and thank you………
+Steve Gutierrez Really tempting to say "it's not about the USA or Obama", it's about the UK's role in the world. But of course it's really about Bush (and Blair) screwing us over. It'll be interesting to see what effect this has on the "Special Relationship".
There's also a possibility that it's not about national allegiances but about doing the right thing. Unlikely, I know!
+Deborah Boyd Hawk.
And another update: Betting on First Blast: Predict when the US will bomb Syria https://plus.google.com/u/0/112352920206354603958/posts/7bLUr3h5z1s