After a majority vote in the British parliament opposing England’s prospected military action on Syria, Prime Minister David Cameron has decided that the country will not pursue action on Syria. This now leaves President Barack Obama and America on its own in regards to international intervention, with the exception of French support.
The proposition came to a vote yesterday and “the prime minister lost a government motion by 272 votes to 285.” In a gracious move on his part, Prime Minister Cameron said that because the motion lost, he will honor the majority and recall any prospects of British intervention against Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.
“I strongly believe in the need for a tough response to the use of chemical weapons,” said Cameron. “While the House has not passed a motion, it is clear to me that the British Parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British military action. I get that, and the government will act accordingly.”
The U.S. is now without its closest ally. And American lawmakers have been calling upon Obama to take the same course of action that Cameron did with consulting the country’s legislative body and abiding by its decision. More recently is House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who is staunchly pushing Obama to seek Congressional counsel before making a decision to strike Syria. Nadler bases his push on the fact that since Syria is of no direct threat to the U.S., Congressional counsel is required.
“Since there is no imminent threat to the United States, there is no legal justification for bypassing the constitutionally required congressional authorization,” said Nadler.
Britain’s withdrawal from enacting military action against Syria has placed President Obama in a very tight spot. In light of the NSA leaks that recently indicated that the U.S. was spying on the United Nations, seeking a strike against Syria will only further alienate Obama from the UN and Americans.
