The White House effort to convince lawmakers in Washington comes after President Obama’s failed attempt to drum up support at the G-20 summit in Russia last week. Speaking in Paris, Secretary of State John Kerry said the administration has not ruled out a return to the U.N. Security Council after inspectors complete their report on last month’s attack in Ghouta.
Secretary of State John Kerry: “The president and all of us are listening carefully to all of our friends. No decision has been made by the president. We will obviously take this under advisement, and I’m sure — and the president will make his decision at the appropriate period of time.”
Kerry spoke after meeting with foreign ministers from the Arab League, including Saudi Arabia, which Kerry says has endorsed a military strike. Earlier today in London, Kerry said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can avoid a military attack if he hands over his entire chemical weapons stockpile within the next week.
Secretary of State John Kerry: “Sure, he can turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week, turn it over, all of it, without delay, and allow a full and total accounting for that. But he isn’t about to do it, and it can’t be done, obviously.”
