President Obama addressed the nation on Syria, saying that as the Assad regime was to blame for the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack, the US has planned a targeted strike with the objective of deterring the use of chemical weapons and degrading Assad’s capabilities. He said he has asked Congress to postpone consideration of the planned strike, however, while the US pursues a diplomatic path with the international community to push the regime to give up its chemical weapons. The Defense Department urged China to support the planned Syrian strike as a measure to deter North Korea from using its chemical weapons arsenal. The US, the UK, and France are drafting language for a UN resolution that will assure Syria’s compliance with the proposed surrender of its chemical weapons.
