This is the cbs evening news with scott pelley reporting tonight from washington. Evening. Pelley good evening. Is the Syrian Crisis moving toward military action or a diplomatic solution . President obama speaks to the nation shortly about his plan to make the syrian dictatorship pay a price for what he says was a chemical weapons attack last month that killed more than 1,400 syrian civilians. But he also asked Congress Today to delay for up to two weeks a vote authorizing a military strike to give diplomacy time to work. Syrias foreign minister said today that to head off the strike his country is ready to reveal its chemical weapons, turn them over to international supervision, and sign a treaty banning them. Secretary of state john kerry is heading to geneva on thursday to talk to his russian counterpart, sergei lavrov, who helped broke they are syrian peace proposal. Kerry called the proposal the ideal way to solve the crisis but not if it is just a delaying tactic. We have a team of correspondents covering this rapidly changing story. First, Elizabeth Palmer in the syrian capital damascus tonight. Liz, what exactly did syrias foreign minister promise . Reporter on television he said that syria would stop making chemical weapons, it would stop possessing chemical weapons, and it would put existing stocks into the hands of russia, other countries, and the united nations. So he didnt appear to leave himself a lot of wiggle room, scott. Pelley but how trustwo reporter well, let me quote an opposition politician we spoke to today who said do i believe him . The syrian governments been lying to us for years so no, but i do believe the russians and russias reputation as an International Diplomatic broker is at stake here. The trouble, is its not chemical weapons that have been killed tens of thousands of people in syria over the last 18 months, its conventional weapons and that is going to go on. Pelley liz palmer in damascus for us. Thank you, liz. At the u. N. Today, the United States, britain, and france discussed a Security Council resolution that would require syria to adhere to a timetable for turning over its weapons or face serious consequences. Russia which has veto power on the council opposes that implied threat and abruptly canceled its request today for an Emergency Council meeting. This story has been changing minute by minute and so, apparently, has the text of the president s speech tonight. Major garrett is at the white house for us. Major . Reporter scott, this is not the speech the president would have given two days ago or even the speech he would have given two hours ago. Over the weekend, the president was writing a speech asking congress for immediate authority to launch missile strikes against syria. Now he ask congress to give diplomacy a chance, revising his speech as hourly diplomatic developments warrant. Separate meetings on capitol hill today with Senate Democrats and republicans, the president also urged those undecided on the use of force to remain silent, fearing opposition could undercut diplomacy. The president also admitted the public is against military action and in a closeddoor meeting with Senate Republicans said im not going to move the polls 20 points tonight. Im good, but im not that good. Pelley major garrett, thank you. The man at the sent over this is the syrian dictator bashar al assad. He and his father before him have ruled for 43 years. A popular revolt against him erupted two years ago and assad is using all of his power to crush it. Cbs this mornings charlie rose sat down with assad for a rare interview and asked him about his many critics. Now they say their words a butcher. Comparisons to the worst dictators ever to walk on the face of the earth, comparing you to them. First of all, when off doctor who cuts the leg to prevent the patient from the gangrene, if you have to, you dont call him a butcher you call him a doctor. And you thank him for saving a life. When you have terrorism, you have war. When you have war you always have innocent lives that could be the victim of any war. Pelley in an interview yesterday at the white house, president obama told us that assad has violated an important norm the global ban on chemical weapons. This is important and if the American People are not prepared to stand up for what is a really Important International norm than i think a lot of people around the world will take that signal that this norm is not important. Pelley the people arent with you. Yeah, well not yet. And as i said, i understand that. If you ask the average person including my household do we need another military engagement, i think the answer generally, is going to be no. Pelley it appears he is right. We asked the average person in a cbs news poll, 61 told us they oppose a military strike. Only 30 would support one. The senate today put off indefinitely a vote on a military strike authorization. The house wont vote until after the senate. To get a sense of the pressure of congress we sat down with four members of the house. Democrats Joaquin Castro of texas and zoe lofgren of california and republicans Jeb Hensarling of texas and scott perry of pennsylvania. Why do you believe that the American People are so against this . I think the American People know, painfully, from recent history that its much easier to get into one of these conflicts than it is to get out of one of these conflicts. And i think the American People are studying this issue carefully and they know its very hard to find people who wear the white hats in syria. People dont want another war in the middle east. They think that the use of chemical weapons is wrong, but they dont know why the United States would be acting by ourselves to do something about it. Pelley let me ask this question about the president s address to the nation tonight. What would he need to say, do you believe, to change the opinions of the American People . To change your opinions on all of this . Well, he needs to squarely address the viability of this diplomatic proposal and the russia alternative and i think that he also needs to give confidence to the American People that if we do take military action that its not going to be a protracted war. People are very nervous about that for many reasons. Pelley what he does have to convince me of and the people of the fifth Congressional District of texas is that there is an imminent threat the security interest of the United States of america. Also, how does this small strike going to degrade them substantially. Isnt assad already desperate . If hes already desperate you have to use chemical weapons wouldnt this make him more desperate . What happens oftothe chemical weapons after the pact . And if were just going target Delivery Systems arent the russian there is to deliver more Delivery Systems of these chemical weapons . Pelley i wonder as you wrestle with this issue and hear from your constituents where constituents where it seems to you like a historic moment, one of those things that transcends party politics. I wake up in the middle of the night worrying about this and i remember when we were fundraising for the world war ii memorial, senator dole saying that when he went down to world war ii nobody asked to see his Voter Registration card. This is something thats about america, its not about democrats or republicans. These are huge decisions that really can change the course of not only a nation but the world. So you have to be very mindful. We want to support the president. We want to support america and you dont take that choice lightly. Pelley bob schieffer, our chief washington correspondent and anchor of face the nation has been thinking about where all of this leaves america. Bob . Reporter scott, it may not be pretty, but by accident or design the Administration May have found a way out of the syrian conundrum. The idea that the russians first came up with to let the u. N. Take over syrias chemical weapons may not be perfect, may not be realistic, may not even be doable, but its worth exploring because its preferable to having congress turn down the president s request to authorize the use of force. And that is almost certainly what would have happened. When america promises to do something as president obama did the rest of the world pays attention. When we dont do what we promised, friends and foes can only question our resolve and that leaves the country in a more dangerous place. In a season of bad choices, embracing this proposal is probably the least worst. So well find out tonight where the president hopes to take it from there. Pelley bob, youll join me right here later tonight as cbs news brings you live coverage of the president s address beginning at 9 00 eastern time, 8 00 central. Thats 6 00 in the west. There are a number of local elections around the country today. Most, of course, involve folks running for office. But in colorado, there is an attempt to run a couple of people out of office for supporting gun control. Barry petersen is covering the recall election. Thats why we need your horsepower. Reporter this is the Campaign War Room for embattled Democratic StateSenate President john morse. Hes been in the state senate for seven years. If you lose . If i lose i hope it doesnt have a Chilling Effect on Gun Legislation throughout the country because i do think that political leaders ought to be standing up to make sure we dont to bury our children and shouldnt be so much just looking over their shoulder at their own political career. Reporter the recall effort against morse and fellow state senator angela giron was launched after they helped pass new state gun laws that restrict magazines to 15 rounds and mandate background checks even for sales between individuals. Timothy knight helped organize the recall. As a national referendum, whats the ramification if you win . Well, i think its going to remind people that really you dont just get to choose the Constitutional Rights you like, you have to choose them all or you need to change the constitution. Paid for by the National Rifle association. Reporter outside groups poured money into colorado. The National Rifle association spent 360,000 mostly on ads. Thousands more came from other gun rights groups. But 3. 2 million has come from gun control supporters including 350,000 from new york mayor Michael Bloomberg to defeat the recall. This is east coast folks bringing in their way of life that people here in colorado dont appreciate. If the recall is successful then it becomes a political tactic for both sides. That makes it even harder to govern than it already is. Reporter if one or both of the senators lose, scott, the democrats still have a slim majority in the state house and senate, enough to turn back any effort to repeal those tough gun control laws. Pelley Barry Peterson in colorado. There are new developments in George Zimmermans latest runin with police. This man confessed to killing someone. Today he went before a judge. And how much would you pay for a glimpse of history . When the cbs evening news continues. Workin the menu. Mayo . Corn dogs . 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Im begging you, please dont drink and drive. Reporter this internet video was posted by Matthew Cordle three months after he slammed head on to into vincent canzani. He was never arrested. My name is Matthew Cordle and on june 22, 2013, i hit and killed van sent canzani. Reporter the online confession has been viewed over a million times since it was posted last week. Cordle planned to plead guilty today in court. Martin midian is his lawyer. There are those who say that the tape specifically has been used in a way to influence this case. My clients intention when he put out this video was to raise awareness about drunk driving. Reporter some people feel as though the video was used to help get matt off easy. Thats not the case at all. What we hope and what matt hopes is that the sentence that hes given is fair and its appropriate. The most important thing is the message, the sentiments behind the video. Reporter a daughter of the man cordle killed declined to speak with us on camera but said reporter the county prosecutors said that he will move forward on this case as he would any d. U. I. Case regardless of that videotape. Matt cordle will be back in court tomorrow. Scott, he faces eight and a half years in prison. Pelley michelle, thank you very much. Meanwhile, police in florida released dash cam video of George Zimmerman being handcuffed and taken into custody yesterday. Zimmermans estranged wife had called 911 claiming that he threatened her with a gun but officers now say zimmerman was not armed. The police hope to get video from the wifes ipad, which was broken during the altercation. That might help them determine whether any charges will be brought. In july, zimmerman was found not guilty of murder in the shooting death of trayvon martin. Apples newest iphones mark a big change in strategy. We will they put the company on top . Thats just ahead. 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