Back home after failing to get any significant support at the G20 summit for his proposed military action against Syria, US President Barack Obama braces himself for the even more arduous domestic challenge of persuading Congress to authorise the use of force.
On Saturday, Obama used his weekly radio address to press the point that America has a moral responsibility to act, asserting that “failing to respond to this outrageous attack would increase the risk that chemical weapons could be used again”. “I know that the American people are weary after a decade of war,” he said, adding: “But we are the United States of America. We cannot turn a blind eye to images like the ones we’ve seen out of Syria.”
“What we’re talking about is not an open-ended intervention.…Any action we take would be limited, both in time and scope — designed to deter the Syrian Government from gassing its own people again and degrade its ability to do so,” he said, casting the chemical attack as not only “a direct attack on human dignity”, but also “a serious threat to our national security”.
Obama will deliver much the same message in a prime-time televised address to the nation on Tuesday just as the US Congress reconvenes after the summer recess and proceeds with its debate and vote on his request to authorise the military action. The decision to deliver a national address comes amid reports of heavy opposition among lawmakers, notably in the House of Representatives, where a majority are on the record of either being against or leaning against the proposed resolution for military action.
According to an Associated Press tabulation, 100 Representatives, belonging to both parties but predominantly Republicans, were clearly opposed to the resolution as of Saturday, while another 92 were leaning against the resolution. Only 21 Representatives were in its favour, with another nine leaning in support. And 211 others in the 435-member House remained undecided.
The President needs to make a convincing case to the American people on Tuesday night, said a spokesman for Republican House Speaker John Boehner, commenting: “Only a President can convince the public that military action is required. We only hope this isn’t coming too late to make the difference.” In the Senate, however, Majority leader Harry Reid predicted that the chamber would authorise the president to go ahead with his plan for limited military strikes without any deployment of ground troops.
The White House has sought to make the point that despite the differences on the issue at the G20 summit, 10 countries have joined the United States in strongly condemning the chemical attack in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21 and demanding “a strong international response”, adding: “Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable.”