1 Sep 2013
Obama asks Congress to approve military strike against Syria
FXstreet.com (Barcelona) - U.S. President Barack Obama has delayed an military strike against Syria by requesting authorization first from an incredulous Congress, a decision that may take no less than 10 days to be given.
As Obama said, in an hastily organized appearance in the Rose Garden, "I’m prepared to give that order, but having made my decision as commander in chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interests, I’m also mindful that I’m the president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy.”
According to John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, “we expect the House to consider a measure the week of September 9.″
U.S. going to war unilaterally?
By asking permission to Congress first, as New York Times Editors Peter Baker and Jonathan Weisman note, "Mr. Obama tried to break out of the isolation of the last week as he confronted taking action without the support of the United Nations, Congress, the public or Britain, a usually reliable partner in such international operations."
Even France appears more hesitant to cooperate with the U.S. now, with the French Interior Minister Mr. Valls saying that France will not act alone and needs the support of other coalition forces, which is unlikely to be received. To make matters worse, the Germans are also turning their backs on the U.S., with Merkel being quotes in a Bloomberg headlines as saying "Germany won’t participate in Syria attack."
Risk-off sentiment set to temporarily recede
According to Mike Paterson from Forexlibe, "the delays continue mean a further reduced safe-haven need being played out in the markets, despite the Syrian crisis will continue to cast a dark shadow for some time yet." Meanwhile, his work colleague Ryan Littlestone, said: "With the US delaying any action, and seemingly unwilling to want to take the lead anyway, this is likely to give some relief to the selling in stocks and oil gains."
As Obama said, in an hastily organized appearance in the Rose Garden, "I’m prepared to give that order, but having made my decision as commander in chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interests, I’m also mindful that I’m the president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy.”
According to John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, “we expect the House to consider a measure the week of September 9.″
U.S. going to war unilaterally?
By asking permission to Congress first, as New York Times Editors Peter Baker and Jonathan Weisman note, "Mr. Obama tried to break out of the isolation of the last week as he confronted taking action without the support of the United Nations, Congress, the public or Britain, a usually reliable partner in such international operations."
Even France appears more hesitant to cooperate with the U.S. now, with the French Interior Minister Mr. Valls saying that France will not act alone and needs the support of other coalition forces, which is unlikely to be received. To make matters worse, the Germans are also turning their backs on the U.S., with Merkel being quotes in a Bloomberg headlines as saying "Germany won’t participate in Syria attack."
Risk-off sentiment set to temporarily recede
According to Mike Paterson from Forexlibe, "the delays continue mean a further reduced safe-haven need being played out in the markets, despite the Syrian crisis will continue to cast a dark shadow for some time yet." Meanwhile, his work colleague Ryan Littlestone, said: "With the US delaying any action, and seemingly unwilling to want to take the lead anyway, this is likely to give some relief to the selling in stocks and oil gains."