Obama will have to show the proof he has never yet shown. “Showdown on Syria chemical weapons expected at G-20 summit in Russia,” by Holly Yan and Greg Botelho for CNN, September 5:
(CNN) — It’s supposed to be a summit about the global economy, but the debate over possible military strikes for Syria’s apparent use of chemical weapons will likely overshadow the G-20 conference this week.
The meeting in Russia will pit two leaders with polar opposite views on Syria — U.S. President Barack Obama, who wants to launch limited military strikes against the Syrian regime, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country stands by its longtime ally in the Middle East.
The views of the 18 other countries at the G-20 run the gamut — but could be influenced by whatever happens in St. Petersburg.
Calls for intervention in Syria intensified after an alleged chemical weapons attack in rebel strongholds last month left about 1,400 people dead, according to U.S. estimates.
The French parliament is expected to debate military action against Syria this week. But there’s not a lot of nationwide support for such an intervention — only one in three people in France endorses punishing Syria.
President Francois Hollande will wait to hear the decision by the U.S. Congress on whether Washington will take military action on Syria before he addresses the French public directly, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told CNN affiliate France 2 Thursday.
But France and the rest of the world will have to wait; the U.S. Senate isn’t expected to vote on a resolution for targeted military strikes until next week.
Britain, normally a dependable U.S. ally in military affairs, has voted against taking any military action.
And Iran said it will defend Syria at any cost.
“We will support Syria to the end,” Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani said.