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83 CONNECT 43 TWEET 18 COMMENTEMAILMORE. Taking his case against Syria
to the nation's airwaves, President Obama said Monday he doesn't yet
know if he will order military strikes even if the House or Senate
reject the idea.
Taking
his case against Syria to the nation's airwaves, President Obama said
Monday he doesn't yet know if he will order military strikes even if the
House or Senate reject the idea.
"It's fair to say I haven't decided," Obama told NBC News, one of six television interviews conducted at the White House.
Obama also told network anchors he is aware of public opposition, isn't confident he has the support of Congress right now, and that final Senate and House votes could be delayed.
"We're going to spend this week talking to members of Congress, answering their questions, and I'm going to speak to the American people tomorrow night directly," Obama told NBC News, adding that he'll evaluate military plans after Congress votes.
"I've made my decision about what I think is best for America's national interests," he said, "but this is one where I think it's important for me to pay close attention to what Congress and the American people say."
VOTE LOOMS: : Will Congress support a military strike on Syria"
In a session with ABC News, Obama said that "I don't anticipate that you would see a succession of votes this week or anytime in the immediate future."
One reason: A new proposal by Russia -- a Syria ally -- to have Bashar Assad's government place its chemical weapons under international control.
The United States will evaluate that plan, Obama said, though he told CBS News "we don't know the details of it yet."
But, he told CNN, "we're going to take this seriously," and said to PBS that he has discussed the idea with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and "my intention throughout this process has been to ensure that the blatant use of chemical weapons that we saw doesn't happen again."
On Fox, Obama said, "we will pursue this diplomatic track" and "I fervently hope that this can be resolved in a non-military way."
Obama also dismissed Assad's threats of retaliation against the United States for an attack. He told CBS that "Mr. Assad doesn't have the capacity to strike us in a significant way."
The president's prime time speech on Syria is scheduled for Tuesday night.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Obama plans to attend the weekly policy luncheons of Senate Democrats and Republicans.
Obama and aides are also providing briefings to members of the Republican-run U.S. House.
As polls reflect major public opposition, Obama faces uphill battles in both chambers.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said Monday she would vote to oppose military force, adding that the proposed resolution "falls short because it calls for military action in Syria without carefully looking at diplomatic or alternative solutions."
Heitkamp said she would work with another Senate opponent, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on an alternative giving Assad 45 days to sign an international chemical weapons ban and begin turning over his own stockpiles.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said he would vote against the resolution, citing "too much uncertainty about what comes next." Other Senate Republicans expressed similar sentiments.
On PBS, Obama said he understands the resistance to a military strike on Syria, after years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the days ahead, Obama said he will stress to Congress and the public that he is planning a limited military strike designed to degrade Assad's weapons capability.
"I'll explain this is not Iraq; this is not Afghanistan; this is not even Libya," Obama told PBS. "Not boots on the ground."
"It's fair to say I haven't decided," Obama told NBC News, one of six television interviews conducted at the White House.
Obama also told network anchors he is aware of public opposition, isn't confident he has the support of Congress right now, and that final Senate and House votes could be delayed.
"We're going to spend this week talking to members of Congress, answering their questions, and I'm going to speak to the American people tomorrow night directly," Obama told NBC News, adding that he'll evaluate military plans after Congress votes.
"I've made my decision about what I think is best for America's national interests," he said, "but this is one where I think it's important for me to pay close attention to what Congress and the American people say."
VOTE LOOMS: : Will Congress support a military strike on Syria"
In a session with ABC News, Obama said that "I don't anticipate that you would see a succession of votes this week or anytime in the immediate future."
One reason: A new proposal by Russia -- a Syria ally -- to have Bashar Assad's government place its chemical weapons under international control.
The United States will evaluate that plan, Obama said, though he told CBS News "we don't know the details of it yet."
But, he told CNN, "we're going to take this seriously," and said to PBS that he has discussed the idea with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and "my intention throughout this process has been to ensure that the blatant use of chemical weapons that we saw doesn't happen again."
On Fox, Obama said, "we will pursue this diplomatic track" and "I fervently hope that this can be resolved in a non-military way."
Obama also dismissed Assad's threats of retaliation against the United States for an attack. He told CBS that "Mr. Assad doesn't have the capacity to strike us in a significant way."
The president's prime time speech on Syria is scheduled for Tuesday night.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Obama plans to attend the weekly policy luncheons of Senate Democrats and Republicans.
Obama and aides are also providing briefings to members of the Republican-run U.S. House.
As polls reflect major public opposition, Obama faces uphill battles in both chambers.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., said Monday she would vote to oppose military force, adding that the proposed resolution "falls short because it calls for military action in Syria without carefully looking at diplomatic or alternative solutions."
Heitkamp said she would work with another Senate opponent, Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on an alternative giving Assad 45 days to sign an international chemical weapons ban and begin turning over his own stockpiles.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said he would vote against the resolution, citing "too much uncertainty about what comes next." Other Senate Republicans expressed similar sentiments.
On PBS, Obama said he understands the resistance to a military strike on Syria, after years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the days ahead, Obama said he will stress to Congress and the public that he is planning a limited military strike designed to degrade Assad's weapons capability.
"I'll explain this is not Iraq; this is not Afghanistan; this is not even Libya," Obama told PBS. "Not boots on the ground."
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