I Am So Thankful To Have Obama In The White House Today.

[MrScorpio]

By pollwatcher
Saturday Nov 14, 2015 10:59 AM EST

The horrific terrorist attack yesterday in Paris has struck at all our hearts. We’ve had our differences with France as we’ve had differences with any friend, but today we mourn for those who fell victim to the cowardly attacks of fanatics, and we stand solidly with the French people as they work through their grief.

But make no mistake, there will be a military response to these attacks, and America will be with the French in this response. The only question is, what type of response will it be, and what part will the U.S. play? Will our part be an Iraq style attack in Syria, or will it be a support role?

Imagine if we had a President McCain, or Rubio, or Carson, or Bush… If we had a President McCain, we would already be deep in Syria dealing with IED’s, ambushes, collateral damage… If we had any of the clowns in todays GOP clown car, I believe we would soon be going very heavily into Syria. But we are extremely fortunate that we don’t have the clowns, we actually have an adult in the White House.

Sadly, President Obama will have to respond to the terrorists, the only question is how? The French will have to make a direct response and we will have to assist them in every way possible. I’m afraid we are going to see U.S. boots on the ground in Syria. But unlike a large scale invasion force, which I believe any of the GOP candidates would do, I think President Obama will think through this carefully and we’ll end up with more special forces and support troops somewhere near Syria. Surgical strikes when possible will become the new norm.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/14/1449883/-I-Am-So-Thankful-To-Have-Obama-In-The-White-House-Today

[B Calm]

1. I hope it will be the same response he gave to ISIS after they blew up a Russian airplane

killing over 200 people.

[polly7]

5. I know, and not just him .... that explosion was widely reported on, as in

who possibly caused it, how it related to Russia's 'interference in Syria, etc. Not even many words of condolence from leaders around the world as far as I've read. It makes me sad for all those left behind .. thought maybe they don't care about what leaders from the rest of the world think, and i wouldn't blame them.

[different equation]

2. I agree. thanks for posting.

[Surya Gayatri]

3. Hallelujah and AMEN!!!

[bravenak]

4. Rec

[Chico Man]

6. I think this goes far beyond Syria

As the Pope said, the Paris attacks are part of a "piecemeal WWIII".

This is now certainly a global war against terrorism - all of Europe, the Middle East, Northern Africa, USA, and Russia are deeply involved.

[Gman]

7. And Russia has skin in the game now too

With the downing of their airliner. Russia is in a tough position now between wanting to protect Assad but also knowing the ISIS situation is getting out of hand.

Will we see Russia as part of a coalition for the first time since WWII? I think those talks are already happening.

[get the red out]

8. I agree

I am so thankful.

[stage left]

9. I am, too.

Just imagine if it was Romney there.

[brer cat]

10. Absolutely! nt

[giftedgirl77]

11. Most def.

[Gothmog]

12. Agreed

I feel safer with President Obama in the White House

[GummyBearz]

14. Yes, he kept us safe

[riderinthestorm]

13. Absolutely agreed nt

[karynnj]

15. I hope that the Daily Kos analysis is wrong

It ignores that Hollande did not ask Foreign minister Fabius to return from Vienna -- or to ask him to work against the effort there to resolve the Syrian civil war. Note that President Obama did not call Kerry back or change the US position.

There is NOTHING in the terrorist attack that suggests that the solution is different from the one that was already being formed in Vienna - with the UN, the western powers, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia etc. In essence, it seems the goal is stabilize Syria with a diplomatic/political solution --- and fight both Al Nusra (AQ) and ISIS.

Ultimately, there is the recognition that no matter how many plots are discovered before they happen, there will be some that happen. What we have to do is to stand together and to make sure it does not change us -- as 911 arguably did. Personally, the reason I am happy that Obama is in office is that he seems to be responding by going ahead with the initiative in Vienna that was already planned.

We are already fighting ISIS. There is not a huge change from the objectives of a year ago. The arguments then against western troops being used on the ground are not any less valid now. In addition, the reason people suggest them reeks of American exceptionalism - that our troops are better fighters than other troops - even if armed in the same way. In fact, the presence of western troops simply reinforces any ISIS/AQ attempt to define their enemies as "occupying" or colonial powers. Not to mention, if it is the people of the area fighting them - they are fighting for their own land and if and when they win, they need to provide the governance and the power to retain it. (We saw in both Vietnam and Afghanistan that the American military could win battles, but once US forces left, the enemy just returned.)

I know it is not popular here, but the response to terrorism, other than continuing the fight against ISIS , that might work best, is to increase intelligence and surveillance -- and to work diplomatically to solve many of the ME fights - including both Syria and Yemen. I was in England on July 7, when coordinated attacks on London's public transportation happened. Though the US would never approve them, the police used video from CATV to within a day identify who was behind it and reassure people that London was a safe place. (In Boston, security cameras from various department stores helped id the killers as well.)

I know I was in the small minority that had no problem with the government having the telephone billing records of people stored for long periods of time. As long as ACCESS to the data base is controlled by the need for subpoenas to search it, it could be a valuable tool. In addition, anything that helps countries share information is good.