Let's have a little discussion about cruise missiles

Iran, Libya, Syria, Iraq, North Korea.

Which of these countries gave up their weapons of mass destruction programs?

Which governments were overthrown with western intervention?

The answer to both questions is Iraq and Libya.

The lesson is loud and clear. WMDs are a perfect deterrent against a hostile America.

Obama claims that we will be seen as stronger by getting congressional approval before striking Syria. In reality an approving vote makes no difference to anybody, and the debate looks to the world like a bunch of old philosophers wringing their hands in the face of a laughing bully.

So why would Obama take this unprecedented step after rushing our forces into place, and so soon after David Cameron's strike plans were defeated in the UK parliament?

The only explanation I find plausible is he really does not want to order the strikes. He saw Cameron's humiliation as a way out. He is gambling there are enough anti-war-at-all-costs Democrats and gullible anti-Obama-at-all-costs Republicans to defeat him.

He's may be right, but it certainly doesn't make us look strong.