Naturally, the White House follows my advice:
Mr. Kerry said hair and blood samples from first responders who were helping victims in East Damascus “have tested positive for signatures of sarin.” While it was the first time anyone in the administration had pinpointed the poison, Mr. Kerry did not say how the administration had obtained the evidence. But he said the case against Mr. Assad was “going to build,” and insisted there was no cost to delaying.
“We do not lose anything; we actually gain,” Mr. Kerry said. “And what we gain is the legitimacy of the full-throated response of the Congress of the United States and the president acting together.”
While I still think it’s problematic to escalate our fight against the Assad regime, it was absolutely required that the administration build a stronger case and get some buy-in from Congress before they took military action. They still have work to do, but now they have time to do it.
And, if Congress won’t go along with the plan, then they have an escape hatch that allows them not to start down a dangerous road.
