Obama Pushes to Change America’s Mind on Syria Strike. The White House is working to counter public sentiment that’s overwhelmingly against military action, using what it calls a “flood the zone” press campaign. On Sunday, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough appeared on four Sunday talk shows, saying it was “too early” to tell if Congress will approve the resolution authorizing the use of force in Syria.
For now, the odds look against it. As of Monday morning, the Washington Post counts 227 House members against it, 25 for it, and 297 undecided. Lawmakers are getting an earful from angry voters who are passionately opposing a Syria strike. McDonough would not entertain questions about what the president would do if Congress didn’t approve his request for use of force. “This resolution is going to pass after we work this,” he said on ABC.
Hilary Clinton plans to address Syria at the White House on Monday. President Obama will be do a spray of TV interviews on Monday before an address to the nation on Tuesday night. Secretary of State John Kerry will join a Google Hangout interview with Syria Deeply, co-hosted by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times, on Tuesday at 2pm ET.
Will President Obama ultimately win over enough votes on Syria? “For a president with rhetorical skills, Obama’s challenge on Tuesday is to convince us that the madness in Syria must end now,” writes veteran political analyst Eleanor Clift in the Daily Beast. “If he can move the nation, he can move Congress.”
Assad Speaks, Denies Using Chemical Weapons. “There has been no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my own people,’ Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Charlie Rose in an interview for CBS News. Assad challenged the U.S. to produce proof of his alleged involvement in the attack. He also warned that a military attack on Syria would spark retaliation by Syria and its allies, alluding to Iran and Hezbollah. “Expect everything,” he said.
The White House dismissed Assad’s remarks. Kerry said on Monday that Assad could avert an attack on Syria, if he hands over all his chemical weapons within one week.
U.S. Seeking, Finding Foreign Friends on Syria Strike. In news from U.S. allies on Syria, Saudi Arabia has backed a Syria strike, according to Kerry. France is still with the U.S. on a Syria strike. But as time wears on, French President Francois Hollande is being criticized at home for his Syria stance, and pressed to put the question to a parliamentary vote (one he might lose). The U.S. says a number of Arab League countries have endorsed a statement calling for a “strong international response” to the Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons, and that the statement was also backed by 12 out of 20 members of the G20. “But a broad international coalition of countries ready to publicly support U.S.-led strikes in Syria remained elusive,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
On the flip side, Iraq has joined Iran in opposing military action against the Assad regime. China says to “think thrice” with “extreme caution” about a Syria strike, urging the U.S. to work through the United Nations in finding a solution to the conflict. German intelligence published in the press this weekend also came out on the opposite side of the U.S. narrative, saying that Assad did not order a chemical weapons strike last month.
And moving into defensive posture, Israel activated its Iron Dome missile defense system outside of Jerusalem. Despite its proximity to the fight, Israel has backed a U.S. strike on Syria.
Suggested Reads from Our Editorial Team:
New York Times: On Both Sides, Syrians Make Pleas to the U.S.
Washington Post/Opinion: Syria Puts Our System on Trial
Reuters: Assad Forces Fear Syrian Rebel Rampage After U.S. Strike
The National Post: Al-Qaeda Linked Rebels Control Christian Village Where Residents Speak the Language of Christ
Newsweek/The Daily Beast: The Rebels Aren’t All Al Qaeda