Posted on 09/10/2013 4:38:34 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
CAPITOL HILL — Hours before U.S. President Barack Obama was to address the nation on the need to confront Syria’s use of chemical weapons, he met with senators of both major political parties on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers emerged saying a vote authorizing the use of force against Syria is unlikely for now, and any final resolution will take international diplomatic developments into account.
President Obama had little to say after meeting separately with Democratic and Republican senators.
“It was a good conversation. Thank you very much," said President Obama.
Late Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid postponed a vote on a resolution authorizing the use of force against Syria - a measure approved last week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The committee’s top Republican, Senator Bob Corker, helped craft the resolution, but now says it is on hold pending a Russian proposal for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons.
“I would be very surprised to see any vote on the Senate floor in the short term. I think our best course of action is to pause, to understand whether this [Russian proposal] is credible or not," said Corker.
Democratic Senator Richard Durbin said President Obama is not overly optimistic that diplomacy can end the Syrian crisis, but is willing to pursue non-military avenues.
“What he has basically asked is for some time to work this out - a matter of days, into next week. And I think that is reasonable," said Durbin.
Majority Leader Reid decides what measures are brought to the Senate floor and when.
“It is important we do this well, not quickly. If something can be done diplomatically, I am totally satisfied with that," said Reid.
The wait-and-see approach constitutes a dramatic shift from last week, when Obama...
(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...
...when Obama was gung-ho to attack before Putin made his move.
I think what Obama is working on is getting pre approval for next time using cover of the UN.
My Biggest Concern is still Congress. I would ask why they still won’t vote down the use of force, but then I remember Boehner et al are buddies with Ubama and that would set his Agenda back a few steps.
He knew he was going to lose, likely in both the Senate and House. The Putin proposal has given him cover to postpone the votes. Simple as that.
The ruling elite stuck their necks out for Obama and he chopped them off.
It will be even more likely now.
A move to save Obama from the same embarrassment the media touted that Cameron got when the Brits voted NO! Obama already has the twits and trolls on his Facebook page spinning a win and claiming it was Obama’s threat of use of force that caused Assad to agree to Putin’s diplomatic proposal...all the while Assad was hunkering down and more determined than ever in the face of Kerry’s proposal and promise of a ‘gentle swat’ at Assad. LOL They are all running around in twisted underpants trying to spin a win out of this debacle. The world stage has called Obama a liar...it doesn’t get much plainer.
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