Obama To Explore Russian Proposal, Seek Support for Attacking Syria

Local Editor

US President Barack Obama tried Tuesday to sell a military intervention in Syria, telling the Americans that he needed authorization to attack Syria as leverage in a newly emerged diplomatic opening from Russia.

Calling the United States "the anchor of global security," Obama offered arguments for being ready to launch limited military strikes while trying to negotiate a diplomatic solution to what he called Syria's violation of a global ban on chemical weapons.
"Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security, are at stake in Syria, along with our leadership of a world where we seek to ensure that the worst weapons will never be used," Obama claimed.

The 15-minute televised speech initially was planned as Obama's final push to win support from a skeptical public and Congress for his planned aggression on Syria.
However, Monday's unexpected diplomatic overture by Russia changed the strategic and political equation. Under the Russian plan, which still lacks any details, Syria would turn over its chemical weapons stockpiles to international control.

However, Russia canceled a UN Security Council meeting it had called for Tuesday and rejected an initial proposal by France for the framework of a resolution, raising questions about whether the diplomatic effort was serious or a stall tactic to put off a US attack on Syria.
The US president called the Russian offer an encouraging sign, but warned that "it's too early to tell whether this offer will succeed."
Therefore, he said, he asked Congress to postpone a vote for now on authorizing military force against Syria.

In addition, the diplomatic push will provide more time for United Nations inspectors to report their findings on the August attack and allow his administration to continue rallying support for an international response, the president said.
At the same time, Obama said he ordered the US military to maintain its "current posture to keep the pressure on S yria and to be in a position to respond if diplomacy fails."
Directly addressing questions he received from members of Congress and letters from the public, he insisted that any US military strike would be limited in scope and mission.

"I know that after the terrible toll of Iraq and Afghanistan, the idea of any military action -- no matter how limited -- is not going to be popular," he said, later declaring: "I will not put American boots on the ground in Syria. I will not pursue an open-ended action like Iraq or Afghanistan. I will not pursue a prolonged air campaign like Libya or Kosovo."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team