What Obama Is Risking in Syria

Sept. 3 (Bloomberg) -- In 1907, President TheodoreRoosevelt contrived a plan to send all 16 of America’sbattleships -- his beloved Great White Fleet -- steaming aroundthe globe, to prove that the U.S. was now a great maritimepower. When word got out, Congress balked, threatening towithhold funds for what was regarded as a wasteful extravagance.Roosevelt responded that he already had the money he needed,adding: “Try and get it back!”

This story comes to mind in the wake of President BarackObama’s unexpected decision to seek congressional approvalbefore taking any action in Syria. According to reports, Obamasurprised even his closest advisers when he told them that hepreferred to act only with legislative authorization.Predictably, an avalanche of criticism has followed.