Obama’s Syria speech earns mixed marks
The president’s announcement that he would seek a delay on congressional votes on military action in the country lacked clarity, observers said.
In the immediate, the president is asking Congress to delay a vote on the United States taking military action in the country in light of a tentative agreement between Syria and Russia to place Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile under international control. Yet President Obama also continued his push to convince a skeptical American public of the need for a military strike if the diplomatic option fails.
Brad Phillips, president of Phillips Media Relations and writer of the Mr. Media Training blog, tweeted that President Obama “articulated his rationale for action well,” but didn’t do a very good job of making it clear exactly what that action would or should be.
“I believe we should act” is strong-sounding but vague. How can U.S. act if Congress turns him down? If Russia backs out? If UN says no?
— Mr Media Training (@MrMediaTraining) September 11, 2013
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