President Barack Obama
said that the United States "should take military action against Syrian
targets" in a Rose Garden address Saturday. However, he said he would
seek congressional authorization when federal lawmakers return from
recess.
The president appealed
for congressional leaders to consider their responsibilities and values
in debating U.S. military action in Syria over its alleged chemical
weapons use."Some things are more important than partisan differences or
the politics of the moment," he said. "Today I'm asking Congress to
send a message to the world that we are united as one nation."