Page 1011 - Commitments News Today

Commitments. i have leaders of congress to postpone a vote while we pursue this diplomatic path and ordered our military to maintain their current posture to keep the pressure on assad and to respond if diplomacy fails. >> some of the criticism today of the presidents address is that it seems that he was back and forth on one account. hes making the case of why chemical weapons unacceptable, the use of it globally. and it is necessary to take a strong military response on the second part of that...

By tuesday putin peace maker was already setting conditions and keir simmons is reporting that russian officials have been meeting behind closed doors. i want to pick up on michaels point. you have a man accused of killing hundreds of thousands and 400 children with chemical weapons and vladimir putin not in the slatest someone that could believe has the best interest of the united states in any of his decisions. what do you make here of who do we trust? >> well, you know, i think that trust wil...

That i had with president putin, the russian government has indicated a willingness to join with the international community in pushing assad to give up his chemical weapons. the assad regime admitted it has these weapons. and even said they joined the chemical weapons convention which prohibits their use. its too early to tell whether this offer will succeed. and any agreement must verify that the assad regime keeps its commitments. but this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of ...

Early to tell if these developments will succeed. >> any agreement must verify the assad regime keeps its commitments. >> reporter: the u.s. is now working diplomatic angles but the president insists a strike option must remain on the table. two thirds of americans oppose military action. the specters of iraq and afghanistan loom large. the president insisted this will be different. >> i will not put american boots on the ground syria. this would be a targeted strike to achieve a clear objective...

Commitments. but this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force. particularly because russia is one of assads strongest allies. >> reporter: now, many syria observers doubt that syria would actually give over its extensive chemical weapons stockpiles and there is concern in the administration this could just be a stalling tactic. secretary of state kerry said yesterday, that this would have to be swift, real and verifiable. he said it cannot b...

With the international community in pushing assad to give up his chemical weapons. the assad regime admitted it has these weapons. and even said they joined the chemical weapons convention which prohibits their use. its too early to tell whether this offer will succeed. and any agreement must verify that the assad regime keeps its commitments. but this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force particularly because russia is one of assads stron...

An addressen which president obama is well aware of americas deep skepticism towards war in the middle east and his own political capital. and tonight the president threw his support behind a delay on congressional action. based on early signs of an unexpected diplomatic breakthrough. >> in part because of the credible threat of u.s. military action as well as constructive talks i had with president putin, the russian government has indicated a willingness to join with the international communit...

Weapons and even said theyd join the chemical weapons convention which prohibits their use. its too early to tell whether this offer will succeed. and any agreement must verify that the assad regime keeps its commitments. but this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force, particularly because russia is one of assads strongest allies. i have therefore asked the leaders of congress to postpone a vote to authorize the use of force while we pursu...

And the whole world has to look at this and respond. now, i give the president tremendous credit for two things. making sure the world remembered its commitments. we passed the chemical weapons convention in the united states senate. dont our votes mean anything, chris? so i think he was strong and he was resolute. and as a result for the first time today and this was glossed over, the first time in history syria admitted it has a stockpile. and said they would join the chemical weapons conventi...

Help him keep the pressure on, but just as you mentioned, you just came out of that meeting. can you describe his tone, describe if theres any skepticism on the presidents part? >> i think the presidents realistic. weve heard commitments made in the past that have not been adhered to. weve seen the president of syria, president assad, make a lot of statements in the past that he didnt live up to. weve seen him turn on his own people. so obviously were very suspicious. but we prefer to use diplom...