Much as I enjoy the theory that a negative vote in the British House of Commons influenced the American administration to "seek consultation" from Congress before a Syrian strike, is it not more likely that President Obama does not really want to get involved in Syria in the first place, and although for form's sake he needs to sound tough (Kerry saying this is a Munich moment) he would actually be quite grateful if the proposals get voted down and he is "forced" by "weak caviling cowards" to do nothing.

As Angela Brazil (that writer of pithy aphorisms disguised as schoolgirl wisdom) once said:  it is pleasant when duty and inclination coincide.