President Barack Obama, flanked by House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks to media in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013, before a meeting with members of Congress to discuss the situation in Syria. AP
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he is confident he’ll be able to work with Congress to pass a resolution authorizing military intervention in Syria.
The president indicated to reporters during a meeting with lawmakers at the White House Tuesday that he’s open to changes to his request for congressional authorization for strikes. He said he’s serious about consulting with Congress, as long as the resolution sends a clear message to Syrian President Bashar Assad and hampers his ability to use chemical weapons.
Obama said he wants the American people to know, quote, “This is not Iraq, and this is not Afghanistan.” He said action in Syria will be limited and proportional.
The meeting in the White House Cabinet room was attended by congressional leaders from both parties in the House and Senate.