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Without Asking Congress, Obama Puts U.S. Troops on Syria Border

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  • Without Asking Congress, Obama Puts U.S. Troops on Syria Border

    The Obama administration announced it deployed U.S. troops near the Syrian border in Jordan without seeking Congress' permission. by Alex Newman


    The Obama administration has now publicly announced that it deployed U.S. troops near the Syrian border in neighboring Jordan without ever seeking congressional permission, supposedly in an effort to help the Jordanian government deal with refugees from Syria while ensuring that the civil war does not spill over into the broader region. Concerns about chemical and biological weapons falling into the “wrong hands” were also cited to justify the latest deployment, but some lawmakers are upset, warning that the U.S. is now even closer to overt military intervention in Syria.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, speaking at a NATO conference in Brussels, said the Obama administration had been cooperating closely with the government of Jordan's King Abdullah II. Apparently both sides are concerned that Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles could end up in the hands of al- Qaeda-linked Islamic extremists currently battling the secular Bashar al-Assad regime with support from the Western establishment and assorted Sunni dictatorships.

    "We continue to be concerned about security at those sites," Panetta said after the NATO meeting of defense chiefs. "We want to ensure that security is maintained and we want to be very sure that those [weapons] do not fall into the wrong hands." The embattled Syrian dictatorship has reportedly tried to secure its stockpiles, but fears about them remain, especially in neighboring Turkey. "They are obviously concerned about the (weapons storage) sites as well," Panetta said about the Turkish government. "So we've worked with them to do what we can to monitor the situation."

    Also part of the U.S. mission, according to officials from both countries, is supporting the Jordanian government. "We have a group of our forces there, working to help them build a headquarters and to ensure that we make the relationship between the United States and Jordan a strong one so we can deal with all of the possible consequences," Panetta explained after the summit. "We've also been working with them to try to develop their own military and operational capabilities in the event of any contingency there."

    Numerous reports have suggested small teams of U.S. and Western government forces may already be operating in Syria. It remains unclear exactly how large the now acknowledged U.S. government presence along the Syria-Jordan border may be, but news reports citing officials claimed there were some 150 American Special Operations troops as well as so-called “trainers.” Also uncertain is where the Obama administration believes it found the lawful or constitutional authority to deploy U.S. troops to Jordan or Syria.

    Some lawmakers, though, are outraged that the administration apparently thinks it can simply deploy American forces wherever it pleases without even obtaining permission from Congress. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who blasted the decision, also warned that the lawless deployment means the U.S. government is now "immeasurably" closer to being directly and overtly involved in the long-running Syrian war.

    "I can see in a moment how it happens: we're a few dozen miles from the Syrian border and all of a sudden we are within the reach of physical danger. All it takes is a single incident," Kucinich told U.S. News, adding that talk of weapons of mass destruction was an argument for trying to reduce the violence rather than intensify it. "Putting U.S. troops on that border draws the U.S. much closer to war in Syria, which is a nightmare already and can be more of a nightmare for our country."

    According to Kucinich, who along with Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) has developed a reputation as one of the fiercest congressional critics of the bi-partisan war-mongering establishment, putting American troops on the border of a conflict area dramatically increases the potential for U.S. involvement. "There's a trail of causality here," he explained.

    Despite the recent public announcements, however, American forces have been there for months. In fact, the Obama administration’s military scheming in Jordan related to the Syrian conflict has been underway since at least May. According to news reports, the U.S. government organized a massive “training exercise” with more than 10,000 troops from almost 20 countries in Jordan. American forces remained there after the exercise was finished.

    “We have been working closely with our Jordanian partners on a variety of issues related to Syria for some time now,” Pentagon press secretary George Little was quoted as admitting by the New York Times, citing concerns about chemical and biological weapons. “As we’ve said before, we have been planning for various contingencies, both unilaterally and with our regional partners.”

    Pointing to previously released “regime change” strategies for Syria developed by the U.S.-based Brookings Institution, analysts said the latest developments are actually part of a broader plan. Essentially, the positioning of American troops in Jordan along Syria’s southern border while Turkish troops and U.S. “intelligence” agencies focus on the northern border is meant to divert the Syrian military’s attention away from its opposition, allowing Western-backed Islamic extremists and rebel forces run wild within the nation.
    I wear a Fez. Fez-es are cool

  • #2
    "Congress ?" I don't need no stinkin Congress !

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    • #3
      Didn't Biden just argue adamantly against putting ground troops in that area?

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Jimbo View Post
        Didn't Biden just argue adamantly against putting ground troops in that area?
        Yup. Just last night

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        • #5
          Originally posted by sc281 View Post
          Yup. Just last night
          But he always says what he means?
          "If I asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses." - Henry Ford

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          • #6
            And the hits keep coming...

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            • #7
              And just think, if anything happens to Mr. Sotero...it's Smilin' Joe.
              "It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself."

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              • #8
                For the most part I am fine with sending small amounts of Special Forces into countries but sending 12+ A-teams into a country and arming al-Queda seems like a horrible idea.

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                • #9
                  I'm sure we will win their hearts and minds...

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                  • #10
                    The POTUS can do what ever he damn well pleases for 90 days with the armed forces with out congressional approval. It is called the war powers act. Love it or hate it, it is just the way things are done.
                    Magnus, I am your father. You need to ask your mother about a man named Calvin Klein.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by svo855 View Post
                      The POTUS can do what ever he damn well pleases for 90 days with the armed forces with out congressional approval. It is called the war powers act. Love it or hate it, it is just the way things are done.
                      Miss the "We've been there for months" part?

                      The President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or in case of "a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces."

                      The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.

                      I wear a Fez. Fez-es are cool

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Forever_frost View Post
                        Miss the "We've been there for months" part?

                        The President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or in case of "a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces."

                        The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.

                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution
                        By the way, Joe "I didn't vote for that" Biden, did indeed vote to go to both Iraq AND Afghanistan through the War Powers Resolution. Another thing he outright lied about in the debate.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Forever_frost View Post
                          Miss the "We've been there for months" part?

                          The President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or in case of "a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces."

                          The War Powers Resolution requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30 day withdrawal period, without an authorization of the use of military force or a declaration of war. The resolution was passed by two-thirds of Congress, overriding a presidential veto.

                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Powers_Resolution
                          I know how the act is supposed to work but I also know how it can be used in the real world. This is the real world that we are seeing.
                          Magnus, I am your father. You need to ask your mother about a man named Calvin Klein.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            You mean, he's acting in violation of the Constitution and the House doesn't have teh balls to impeach him. You're right. There is no "supposed to work and real world." There is the law and there is a violation of the law.

                            It's like saying "That speed limit says 70 but in the real world, we do 90." No, you do over 70 and a cop can bust your ass.
                            I wear a Fez. Fez-es are cool

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