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Health & Fitness

Obama Push to Hit Syria Takes Detour

Senate Delays Vote as Russia Seizes on Kerry’s Offhand Suggestion That Assad Give Up Chemical Weapons

President Barack Obama’s campaign for an attack on Syria took an unexpected turn as his administration inadvertently gave the Assad regime a potential way out that spawned second thoughts on Capitol Hill and enthusiasm among international opponents of a military strike.

After Secretary of State John Kerry suggested in off-the-cuff comments that President Bashar al-Assad could avert an attack by promptly handing his chemical weapons to the international community, Russia declared its support and quickly got Damascus on board.

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The Russian proposal threatened to further erode support for military action, and many lawmakers seized on it to avoid or delay a vote that even in the Democratic-controlled Senate was appearing in doubt, a trend likely detected by White House officials.

However, administration officials and many lawmakers also expressed skepticism about the offer, citing the record of Mr. Assad and his ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the 2½-year civil war.   

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