Lebanese Expert: Obama Seeks Congress Authorization for Striking Syria or an Exit Out of Quagmire?!

Zeinab Essa

Navy warships were gathered from all over the globe before the zero hour. US and its allies prepared their forces for the strike. Escalation and threats reached their climax. The Zionist entity called its reservists and declared emergency. The Sheikhs of oil kingdoms were enthusiastic more than ever. Eyes and ears were fixed to the screens. US President is expected to announce war against Syria.

Obama Turns to Congress

However, during a 45-minutes' walk in the South Lawn of the White House, Obama surprised his chief of staff Denis McDonough by the bomb: "I'll turn the decision to strike Syria to vote in Congress."
The man appeared later to declare to the Americans and the whole world: "After careful deliberation, I have decided that the United States should take military action against Syrian regime targets," he said Saturday in the White House Rose Garden, Vice President Joe Biden standing at his side.

"I've made a second decision: I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress," he said.
The US President's retreat after Britain, Washington's closest ally, had opted out of an international coalition after its Parliament said a sounding "NO" for war.
Meanwhile , Republican leaders in Congress complained loudly about a lack of consultation from the White House ahead of a potential new war.
This comes as protests poured into streets, calling Obamas to keep hands off Syria. Furthermore, polls showed war-weary Americans opposed any US involvement in Syria.

So the president decided to wait. Rather than ordering a military strike, he announced his decision that force was necessary while seeking congressional approval to authorize it.
"I'm also mindful that I'm the president of the world's oldest constitutional democracy ... and that's why I've made a second decision: I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress."

Obama Unable to Confront Resistance Coalition

Commenting on Obama's decision, strategic expert and the Retired Brigade General in the Lebanese Army Amin Hotait explained that any attacker must possess three factors to launch his offensive: the ability to reach the necessary ground achievements, to respond, and to invest the ground achievements on the political arena."
On the Syrian level, Hotait clarified that Obama's retreat from attacking Syria away from a Congress approval goes back to his finding that "the forces of defense, represented by Syria and the resistance axis, own the capabilities that would prevent Washington from achieving ground victories."

"The political and military abilities of this international resistance coalition are able to effectively harm the interests of the US as well as its allies," he said, noting that "the US lacks the power of political investment i.e. to topple the Syrian regime and to find an alternative."
According to the strategic expert, "the US inability to form an international coalition to attack Damascus in addition to the strength of the resistance axis deterred the aggression against Syria."

Firm Iran, Leading Russia

In this context, Hoteit referred to the Russian and Iranian responses to the US threats of attacking Syria, reiterating that "the US might start a War but it surely won't be able to end it."
"Obama's fear from the response made him delay the aggression," he mentioned, predicting the US suspension of the strikes unless a new factor alters the balance in favor of US policy.

However, he assured that the resistance alliance's power is escalating while the offensive power of the US and its allies is deteriorating, particularly that Washington is unable to change the ground equations.
From the military aspect, Hoteit praised the Iranian officials' response to the US threats.
"He who monitors the sources of Iranian responses would note that they varied to include all who might be related to the military operation. The Iranian officials sent a firm message that Tehran isn't to allow any side to attack or harm its key ally, Damascus."

The Retired Lebanese General quoted the Iranian Commander of al-Quds forces Major General Qassem Soleimani as saying: "Any US soldier, who takes off his plane or leaves his warship entering Syria, will have to carry his Coffin with him."
The Iranian response found its echoes into the US administration. Thus, according to Hoteit's reading, Obama had to recalculate the consequences of attacking Syria.
On another level, he estimated that Moscow has succeeded in controlling the political diplomatic battle, with military aspects, with its American rival.

"Russia led the battle with unprecedented tact and wits," he said, noting that "it made the US fall into the trap of strategic dumbness after Lavrov announced that his country won't intervene in any war against Syria to be followed later by President Putin's most harsh and astonishing remarks that US claims over chemical weapons in Syria are utter nonsense."

Hizbullah Screaming Silence

In parallel, Hoteit viewed that Hizbullah's silence was sounding: "Hizbullah used to surprise the analysts whether in leading the battle or remaining silent."
"As part of the psychological war, Hizbullah's powerful silence was astounding as it was linked to the Secretary General [His Eminence] Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah earlier statements that Hizbullah won't leave Syria alone even if he was personally to head to Syria," the General emphasized.

Thus, the "the ambiguity that covered Hizbullah's performance had its fearing effects on the opponents' front. Thus their analysts kept on warning: "Don't search for the origin of the missiles, search where they are to land and what they are to devastate."

Disappointed "Israel"

On the front of the US allies, the Zionist entity expressed its disappointment by Obama's performance, describing him as the "paper tiger".

""Israel" thought that toppling al-Assad, destroying Syria's strategic missiles, ending the nightmare of an opponent Arab Army, and striking Syria is a matter of some hours," Hoteit said, pointing that the American retreat from striking Syria stunned in addition to "Israel": the Syrian opposition that dreamed of leading Syria, and the Saudi Arabia Kingdom that dreamed of making Syria part of its strategic orbit.

However, Obama's decision ended the dreams of those triplet.

According to Hoteit, "Egypt survived the humiliation as it refused the Hebrew League's [Arab Leagues] decision to support striking Syria."


Source: Al-Ahed news