Reply #1: I watched part of the first hearing

[karynnj]

After saying that their were reasonable differences of opinion, Kerry next spoke of the hope that they could get a bipatisan resolution out of the committee - which they appear to have done. In the hearing - as in the floor speech, it is very clear that Kerry very much wanted an authorization passed.

I think he really needs to join Lugar in demanding that the Obama administration stop their pattern of not providing the committee with what it needs. I understand that he does not want to hurt a Democratic President, but it is clear that they are abusing the fact that he is a very loyal person. I seriously doubt it is to "become SoS". He is smart enough to know that if Obama were to give it because someone "deserved it by helping him" - he would have been SoS for the last several years. There is no reason to think Obama would not do the same thing again.

On this he was one of the people who argued for it - before almost anyone else - and I believe that his motive really was what he said it was averting a massacre and the idea that a massacre ending the rebellion would have ended the Arab spring.