Tennis Anyone?

Our reluctant warrior, President Obama, last Friday interrupted his golf game long enough to lob the Syrian war-making judgment back into Congress’s court … not so much, I believe, out of respect for the Constitution or the War Powers Act, but rather as a way of postponing the actual start of belligerencies for another two weeks.  If Congress then deliberates and confirms his dubious decision to try to take out some of Assad’s chemical-weapon delivery mechanisms, then he, once again, might be able to off-load any serious political repercussions if things go poorly.  Ad in.

But I say “dubious decision” because, like the Israelis, I also doubt that, even if Congress gives him the go-ahead, he will actually serve the ball … see: Powerline Comments.  If however Congress, like the British Parliament and Germany, says “no,” then Obama can slink away from this confrontation with a very small shred of his dignity preserved.  He will then, once again, have spoken loudly but carried a small stick … independent of Vice President Joe Biden’s crass innuendo.

As to my “reluctant warrior” comment …we now know that President Obama played cards during much of the Abbottabad raid on the Osama bin Laden compound and concluded his Friday’s challenge to Congress over Syria’s use of chemical weapons by going off to play another round of golf.  Either our President has nerves of steel or a spine of spaghetti.  I think history will tilt toward the pasta.