Monday Short Cuts
Panetta says Obama “sent the wrong message not only to Assad but I think to Russia as well.”
The Gipper: “If some among you fear taking a stand because you are afraid of reprisals from customers, clients, or even government, recognize that you are just feeding the crocodile hoping he’ll eat you last.”
For the record: “There’s a system, a legal justice system, in place. And the law deports people. Secretary Kelly doesn’t. ICE doesn’t. It’s the United States … that deports people.” —Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly
The BIG lie: “We don’t have any chemical weapons. We gave up our arsenal three years ago. Even if we had them, we wouldn’t use them. And we have never used our chemical arsenal in our history.” —Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad
Mainstream dissenter: “I’ve always said that when a president puts his credibility on the line with a red line, as President Obama did in saying that we would not allow [Syria] to use chemical weapons, I think it was the right step to take, but it was also important to then stand by that red line and enforce it. And I think when there was hesitancy … it sent the wrong message not only to Assad but I think to Russia as well.” —Leon Panetta, secretary of defense under Obama
And last… “One difference between the government and a mugger is a mugger doesn’t make you spend a day filling out a complicated [tax] form so he can rob you.” —Frank Fleming