US President Barack Obama has sent Congress a draft resolution to authorize the use of military force against Syria. Washington blames Syrian government forces for using chemical weapons near Damascus in the August 21 against foreign-backed insurgents.
The Syrian government has categorically rejected the allegations saying the insurgents staged it to incriminate the government.
In a Rose Garden address on Saturday, Obama said that he had decided the United States should launch military strikes against Syria.
Å“Over the last several days, we have heard from members of Congress who want their voices to be heard,” he said.
Obama, however, did not say whether he would use his authority as the commander-in-chief to attack Syria if Congress rejects his call for action.
Congressional leaders have agreed to hold a debate on Syria and vote when they return to Capitol Hill from recess on September 9, he said.
The draft resolution, sent to Congress on Saturday, calls for a military strike Å“consistent with international and US law” and comes as Washington has few international partners for its strategy in Syria, The Hill reported.
If passed the resolution would give President Obama the authority to use force as he deems Å“necessary and appropriate” to protect the US and its Å“allies and partners” against the threat of chemical weapons.
The draft resolution also cites a 2004 United Nations Security Council resolution that said proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons was a threat to international peace and security.
Å“The objective of the United Statesâ„¢ use of military force in connection with this authorization should be to deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade the potential for, future uses of chemical weapons, or other weapons of mass destruction,” it states.
Some analysts believe that Washington– at the behest of some regional allies mainly Saudi Arabia and Qatar– is using the allegations of chemical weapons use by the Assad government as Å“a casus belli” to attack the Middle Eastern nation.
The language used in the resolution, however, emphasizes that the military action in Syria would not be aimed at manipulating the outcome of the conflict.
It states that the conflict Å“will only be resolved through a negotiated political settlement.”
This comes as two strong voices on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, said in joint statement Friday that they will not back Å“isolated military strikes” against Syria.
The senators insisted that any military involvement should achieve Å“the president’s stated goal” of removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected US claims that Syrian government used chemical weapons saying it would be Å“utter nonsense” for government troops to use such tactics in a war it was already winning.
Protesters around the world have taken to the streets to protest against a possible US attack on Syria.
HJ/DB
Republished from: Press TV