Obama will seek congressional approval before any military action against Syria
The president came to the unexpected decision during a walk Friday evening with his chief of staff Denis McDonough, just hours after Secretary of State John Kerry made a forceful case for the U.S. to attack Syria, sources told NBC News. After Obama returned from the stroll around the South Lawn, he called senior aides, leading to meetings Friday night and Saturday morning, the sources said.
Obama stressed on Saturday that American warships in the Mediterranean Sea still stood poised to strike regime targets at any time, despite the move that would place a hold on any imminent military
"Over the last several days, we have heard from members of Congress who want their voices to be heard," Obama said. "I absolutely agree."
"We should have this debate, because the issues are too big for business as usual," he said.
Hours later, he sent congressional leader requesting "authorization for the use of United States Armed Forces in connection with the conflict in Syria."
Just minutes after Obama's statement, the Syrian army recommenced its shelling of rebel-held Damascus suburbs, which had halted for several hours.
In his statement, Obama condemned Assad's regime, describing the alleged chemical attack as "an assault on human dignity" that "presents a serious danger to our national security." He had previously characterized the use of chemical weapons as a "red line" that Assad should not be permitted to cross.
Obama pledged that any military involvement would be of "limited duration and scope."
"This would not be an open-ended intervention," he said. "We would not put boots on the ground."
Before saying Saturday that he would seek approval from Congress, the President made clear that "we are prepared to strike whenever we choose."
"Our capacity to execute this mission is not time-sensitive," Obama said. "It will be effective tomorrow or next week or one month from now, and I am prepared to give that order."
And yet many with the apparent postponement of military intervention. One rebel spokesman told NBC News: “President Obama is sending contradictory messages. He promised to help, and now promises delays.”
“If Congress votes against a military action,” the spokesman said, “it will mean the American people don’t want to help the Syrian people.”
Kerry on Saturday afternoon spoke with Syrian Opposition Coalition President Ahmed Assi al-Jarba to “underscore President Obama’s commitment to holding the Assad regime accountable,” according to a statement from a senior State Department official.
Key Republican leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., issued a joint statement Saturday afternoon applauding the president’s decision to take his case for intervention to their official chambers.
“Under the Constitution, the responsibility to declare war lies with Congress,” they said. “We are glad the president is seeking authorization for any military action in Syria in response to serious, substantive questions being raised.”
Congress is slated to return from its five-week summer recess on Sept. 9. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the upper chamber would begin hearings on the issue next week, ahead of what he pledged would be a vote no later than the week of Sept. 9th.
Meanwhile, citizens in Syria worried Saturday about the skyrocketing price or sudden absence of food, gasoline, and medical supplies. The city was checkered by roadblocks, and traffic was slowed to a crawl.
ctivists in the Syrian capital told NBC News that people in some Damascus neighborhoods waited seven hours in bread lines, and scooped up other essential items like rice, tea, and sugar in preparation for a strike. Some people who live in close proximity to possible targets like military installations and barracks have moved, the activists sai
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