DAMASCUS – A Syrian state-run newspaper says that President Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Syria marks “the start of the historic American retreat.”
In a front-page editorial yesterday, the Al-Thawra daily says Obama’s reluctance to carry out strikes against Syria stems from his “sense of implicit defeat and the disappearance of his allies.” It also says the US president worries about limited intervention turning into “an open war has pushed him to seek Congress’ consent.” Al-Thawra is a government newspaper and its editorials reflect the thinking of President Bashar Assad’s regime.
“Obama has given himself a chance to take a step backward by talking about Congress’ approval and to search for other parties to participate in the attack,” Haidar told The Associated Press by telephone. “In other words, he wants to keep brandishing the sword of aggression on Syria without fully giving up the idea of an attack and even without setting a definite date for the aggression.”
Over the past week, the U.S. Navy moved warships into the eastern Mediterranean as the Obama administration considered its options. But with everything in place, Obama opted to take get the backing of Congress before launching military strikes, saying he believes taking that path will make the U.S. “stronger.”