TEN DAYS IN AUGUST

During thirteen days in October 1962 the world came close to nuclear war. Such a war was avoided by back channel diplomacy.

Similar back channel diplomacy may well have occured during the last 10 days, as suggested by that Israeli source of terrible 'intelligence', Debkafile, who suggested that Obama was secretly negotiating a response with Putin involving the USA giving Assad a slap on the wrist rather than a kick in the balls.

I don't know.

But today Obama was wise. He went further than I had hoped. There are no doubt Israeli, Saudi and British guns at his head.

The American people are dead against any strike. Many in Congress are too. The UN will never provide a resolution, and with British support clearly lacking, it will be tough for Congress to give the nod, particularly when impeachment is openly discussed (as it should have in this DFQ).

We must redouble our efforts to expose the true culprit, Bandar bin Sultan. Many in Congress will know this anyway.