USA TODAY International Edition
Onus for votes is on Obama
House GOP says strike is matter of conscience
WASHINGTON President Obama won backing for a military strike against Syria from two top House Republicans after meeting with members of both parties Tuesday, but Republican congressional aides said the White House will be responsible for rounding up sufficient votes for authorization in the GOPrun House of Representatives.
Both House Speaker John Boehner, R- Ohio, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R- Va., endorsed Obama’s call for action against the Syrian government over the use of chemical weapons.
Before the meeting, Obama told reporters that “we have high confidence that Syria used — in an indiscriminate fashion — chemical weapons that killed thousands of people, including over 400 children.” He stressed that he envisions a “limited” and “proportional” mission. There will be no U. S. troops on the ground in Syria, Obama said.
“This is not Iraq, and this is not Afghanistan,” the president said.
Asked whether he was confident about upcoming votes in the House and Senate, Obama said, “I am.”
Those votes could well be close, however.
Some lawmakers have said the United States should not get involved in Syria; others question whether the administration has proved that Assad’s government fired chemical weapons at Syrian rebels. Syria has denied using chemical weapons, attributing an attack Aug. 21 to the rebels.
Boehner did not say he would pressure fellow Republicans into supporting action against Syria. His spokesman, Brendan Buck, said these will be “conscience votes” for lawmakers, and the White House must lead the lobbying effort: “Everyone understands that it is an uphill battle to pass a resolution.”
In the days ahead, Obama will seek support for a Syria strike from world leaders while attending a Group of 20 nations’ summit in Russia.
Meanwhile, Vice President Biden canceled a Thursday trip to Florida so that he could stay in Washington to continue work on Syria while Obama is abroad.