I don't care why Obama has backed off his threat to bomb Syria, I'm just glad he has.

[last1standing]

I don't care if he's played 12 dimensional chess or found himself caught up in a rhetorical offer. The fact is that it appears that Assad will turn over his stockpile of chemical weapons, Russia is cooperating with the international community, and the United States will not end up being a rogue nation, yet again.

If Obama takes a victory lap for tricking Russia and Syria into supporting a peaceful solution to this problem, I'll be the first to applaud him. Whether he meant it or not, we should all be congratulating him and Kerry on resolving the Syria issue without bloodshed.

[Gravitycollapse]

1. What exactly do you mean "resolving the Syria issue without bloodshed?"

The war will continue and many more will die. We have resolved nothing. It's not our war to resolve.

I'm tired of Western powers threatening to bomb the shit out of the Middle East and then patting themselves on the back when they are shamed into not doing it. No, you don't get this celebration. No victory was had. Go sit in the corner and think about your decisions.

[last1standing]

2. Not many at DU would exactly call me a cheerleader for Obama.

But it looks like there's a good chance we won't be adding to the problem by bombing Syria while they're in the middle of a civil war. Therefore, from the perspective of the US there will be no additional bloodshed - at least not caused by us.

Maybe Obama was duped into supporting a non-violent approach to dealing with Syria's chemical weapons, maybe not. I have my opinion and it is likely similar to yours, but regardless, I'll support him taking a victory lap because it will be an endorsement of diplomacy over violence. In my opinion, that's a win/win situation.