Can Syrian Chemical Weapons Issue Lead to US-Iran Opening?
Al-Monitor’s analysis and coverage of a possible US military strike on Syria.
US President Barack Obama today [Aug. 31] said he would seek congressional authorization to pursue a limited military strike on Syria.
The announcement came as a surprise for those who were expecting military action over the US Labor Day holiday weekend.
The congressional debate buys time for the UN chemical weapons inspection team to present its report, and for the administration to further make its case to a wary Congress, at the UN, at the G-20 summit, which Obama will attend in St. Petersburg Sept. 5-6, and, perhaps, to test Iran’s willingness to play a constructive role in seeking a political settlement in Syria.
The president’s decision reflects an awareness of polls indicating Americans mostly want to stay out of the armed conflict in Syria, although there seems to be support for limited military action to deter chemical weapons use.
