Lucky or brilliant

[IsItJustMe]

If we are succesfull at removing the largest stock pile of chemical weapons in the world out of a country that is filled with terrorists, fanaticals and war mongers, that would be a really good thing. Wouldn't it? Could we at least agree upon that?

I think people sometimes can't see the forest because of the trees.

[badtoworse]

1. That is a VERY big if.

I'm at a loss to understand why Putin would bail Obama out of the mess he got himself into.

[IsItJustMe]

2. Well, someone has to be positive and have some faith

because if we didn't, nothing constructive would ever get done

[badtoworse]

3. I wouldn't trust either side to just hand over all their chemical weapons

[wandy]

5. This may not be a matter of bailing out President Obama.....

Russia may be protecting their own interests.
Try thinking of it this way......

Would you want a wacko like Assad as an alley?
It is possible that Mr. Putin doesn't want him either.

[Union Scribe]

7. Great point. nt

[IsItJustMe]

15. I have also thought of another angle on this

This may very well be helpful to Assad also. These rebels take over different parts of the country at random. These weapons could easily fall into their hands, if they have not already.

That means they could be used against Assad and his forces. This could be a way for Assad to clean up his ungodly mess and use international forces to do it.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. Except it is not the largest stock of chemical weapons, ours is. We are in the process

of destroying it for several more years, but at this point we own the largest stockpile of chemical weapons on Earth.

[Union Scribe]

6. It's a very good thing.

And more than missiles could have done. If it works it will be a vital step in seeking regional peace.

[IsItJustMe]

9. Well, at the very least, it has the potential of keeping these

weapons out of the hands of some very dangerous people who would use them in a heart beat.

Syria is extremely unstable and could very easily become, if not to some extent already, a failed state with no controls.

That would be really bad.

[Marr]

8. I agree completely. However...

I also think that any continued push for military action will be an admission that this was never about chemical weapons. And I hope Obama's biggest supporters will recognize that obvious fact as well, should such a push occur.

I sincerely hope that doesn't happen, and Obama's biggest fans (who were, oddly, quite on board with military strikes just a matter of hours ago) can enjoy their victory laps and shout that this was the plan all along and that Obama never really wanted the war they were so anxiously selling. Fine. If it makes them happy to see it that way, it won't bother me in the slightest-- apart from maybe a little twinge in my logic gland.

[bigwillq]

11. The biggest Obama supporters just go along with whatever Obama says

If he said "Strike", they support a strike. If he said, we're going to come up with a compromise, they're for a compromise.

I am just happy I am an independent thinker!

[IsItJustMe]

12. Well, nothing is ever the way it really seems

I believe there is some truth in the phrase that people make their own luck and that the truth probably rests somewhere in between.

Being lucky and having some brilliance about you don't have to be mutually exclusive.

[bigwillq]

10. The comprise of politics

I am pleased that it seems like we're going to avoid a military strike, for now.
That's a good thing.

[LaydeeBug]

13. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I don't care if it's 3 dimensional chess

or foreign pressure or tiddly winks, not going to war is better than going to war.

I don't care if he orchestrated it, acquiesced to it, or just played the hand he was dealt, he did it BEAUTIFULLY. (I think it was the latter of the list, but I don't care, because, again, less war is better than more war.

[IsItJustMe]

14. At least has the ability to stand back for a second and take a deep breath

Some people (i.e. GWB) get so wrapped up in their own ego that they are incapable of doing this. Not a good thing when this happens. Especially when you are the POTUS.

[Proud Public Servant]

16. It may just be the ability to read a poll

or a whip count. It would be interesting to know what the White House would have made of Putin's offer had American sentiment been running 4-to-1 in favor of bombing Syria, instead of 4-to-1 against.

[IsItJustMe]

17. Guess we will never know, unless he or members of his adminstration

tells us at some point in the future.

But I do believe that political concerns are not the only concern for Obama. This is an extremely complicated situation, this war and peace business.

All sorts of things can go sideways and the ramifications are of an endless variety.

He has and had a lot on his plate. I really hope that his works out regardless, for everyone's interests.

[PinfeathersEagle]

18. Minor detail, but the US has the largest stock pile of CMs. We can do that alone.