Ditto Kooshy...As someone who lives on BOTH sides of the pond I totally agree with your analysis. I would only add that Obama also has a driving need to be accepted by the existing oligarchy and was never going to let a few slaughtered women and children keep him from achieving that goal. He probably doesn't give a damn who makes the decisions as long as he doesn't get blamed for the bad ones. He's eager to become another ex-pres living off the fat of the land with his name on a library and lots of time to play golf.