President Barack Obama on Wednesday said it is the international community’s credibility - not his - that is at stake if Syria’s alleged chemical attacks on its citizens are not addressed. At a joint news conference in Stockholm after meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeldt, Obama reacted defiantly to suggestions that his credibility will be damaged if his proposal for military strikes on Syrian facilities is rejected by Congress.

“First of all, I did not set a red line,” Obama said.  “The world set a red line.  The world set a red line when governments representing 98% of the world’s population said the use of chemical weapons are abhorrent, and passed a treaty forbidding their use, even when countries are engaged in war.”

He said the U.S. Congress, which ratified the treaty, also bears responsibility for helping to uphold global norms against the use of chemical weapons.

“My credibility is not on the line. The international community’s credibility is on the line.  And America and Congress’ credibility is on the line, because we give lip service to the notion that these international norms are important,” he said.

Obama is seeking authorization from Congress and support from the international community for limited military strikes designed to disable Syria’s alleged chemical weapons capability.

After his visit to Stockholm, the president will go to the G-20 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.  There, he will make his case for international support for the strikes.

The top Republican in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, said Tuesday he supports the president’s request for authorization.  But Republican Senator John McCain, who said Monday he backs military action in Syria, said Wednesday he does not support the latest Senate resolution to do so.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee could vote on the resolution as early as Wednesday.  The House Foreign Affairs Committee is also considering a proposal.

A new public opinion poll shows that 59 percent of Americans oppose taking unilateral military action against Syria. [Read More]

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Source: VOA News: Economy and Finance