President Obama's Syrian calculations just got even more complicated following the decisions of several NATO allies on a potential strike:
Britain
Prime Minister Cameron was Obama's strongest partner in calling for air strikes and targeted attacks to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for his regime's highly suspected use of chemical weapons last week in a Damascus neighborhood. However, that all changed when parliament failed to approve action by just thirteen votes yesterday afternoon.
Germany
With crucial elections facing Chancellor Angela Merkel's weakened Christian Democrats in three weeks time and a very war weary public following the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the German government has no plans of joining such operation whatsoever and has not been asked to do so by potential allies.
France
French President Francois Hollande has been steadfast in his belief that Bashar al-Assad's regime must be punished for their actions and has publicly announced France's support for any U.S. led strike on Assad's forces and command centers.
Leaving the United States with only French support in any potential mission targeting Assad forces, and due to French timelines that (a.) U.N. inspectors must be off the ground and (b.) President Hollande must inform parliament three days before any military action, without any active allies until next Saturday at the least.
What say you?
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