Syrian state paper says Obama and US in retreat

A Syrian state-run newspaper Sunday called President Barack Obama's decision to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Syria "the start of the historic American retreat."

The front-page article in the Al-Thawra daily followed Obama's announcement Saturday that he would ask Congress to support a military strike punishing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government for allegedly unleashing chemical weapons on rebel-held suburbs of Damascus last month.

Before the announcement, the White House had appeared to many to be on the verge of ordering a military attack against Syria.

"Whether the Congress gives the red or green light for an aggression, and whether the prospects of war have been enhanced or faded, President Obama has announced yesterday, by prevaricating or hinting, the start of the historic American retreat," Al-Thawra said.

The paper, which often reflects the government’s position, also claimed that Obama's reluctance to take military action stemmed from his "sense of implicit defeat and the disappearance of his allies." It said the American leader’s worry about limited intervention turning into "an open war has pushed him to seek Congress' consent."

Syria's minister for reconciliation issues, Ali Haidar, echoed that line.

"Obama has given himself a chance to take a step backward by talking about Congress' approval and to search for other parties to participate in the attack," Haidar told The Associated Press by telephone. "In other words, he wants to keep brandishing the sword of aggression on Syria without fully giving up the idea of an attack and even without setting a definite date for the aggression."

Also Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in interviews that there is new evidence testing positive for the use of sarin in the suspected chemical attacks. A U.S. intelligence report last week said the attacks killed 1,429 people, including more than 400 children.

Congress is scheduled to return from a summer break on Sept. 9. In anticipation of the coming debate on Syria, Obama on Saturday asked lawmakers to consider "what message will we send if a dictator can gas hundreds of children to death in plain sight and pay no price."

The White House has sent Congress a draft of a resolution seeking approval for a military response to "deter, disrupt, prevent and degrade" the Assad regime's ability to use chemical weapons in the future. The Senate will hold hearings so a vote can take place after Congress gets back to work.

The Obama administration has argued that the nation’s credibility is at stake in Syria, and Obama earlier said the use of chemical weapons was a "red line" that Assad would not be allowed to cross with impunity.

British Prime Minister David Cameron charted course similar to Obama’s last week by asking the House of Commons to support military action against Syria, only to suffer a stinging defeat.

In France, Obama's speech sparked calls for President Francois Hollande, who supports an armed response in Syria, to seek parliamentary approval. Hollande is not constitutionally required to do so. France's parliament is scheduled to debate the issue Wednesday, but no vote is scheduled.

Al Jazeera and the Associated Press