President Barack Obama said Saturday that though the American military is ready to strike Syrian targets, he’ first wants Congress to debate and vote on the mission.
“We should have this debate, because the issues are too big for business as usual,” he said in a statement from the White House Rose Garden.
Obama has faced growing skepticism from American people and little support from Congress.
But most members have stopped short of outright opposition; they want more information and they want a say.
The president was resolute that he has the authority—and the case—to strike.
He cited the evidence laid out Friday by Secretary of State John Kerry, and talked about “hospitals overflowing with victims terrible images of the dead. Alll told well over 1,000 people were murdered. Several hundred of them were children.”
“This attack is an assault on human dignity. It also presents a serious danger to our national security. It risks making a mockery on the global prohibition on the use of chemical weapons,” the president said.
He now wants consent from Congress, and urged it to put aside partisan differences. “Ultimately this is not about who occupies this office at any given time, it’s about who we are as a country,” Obama said.
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
As journalists, we have a responsibility to look at hard realities and communicate them to you. We hope that you, like us, can use this information to prepare for what’s to come.
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In addition to covering the widespread onslaught of draconian policy, we’re shoring up our resources for what might come next for progressive media: bad-faith lawsuits from far-right ghouls, legislation that seeks to strip us of our ability to receive tax-deductible donations, and further throttling of our reach on social media platforms owned by Trump’s sycophants.
We’re preparing right now for Trump’s Day One: building a brave coalition of movement media; reaching out to the activists, academics, and thinkers we trust to shine a light on the inner workings of authoritarianism; and planning to use journalism as a tool to equip movements to protect the people, lands, and principles most vulnerable to Trump’s destruction.
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Today, we’re asking all of our readers to start a monthly donation or make a one-time donation – as a commitment to stand with us on day one of Trump’s presidency, and every day after that, as we produce journalism that combats authoritarianism, censorship, injustice, and misinformation. You’re an essential part of our future – please join the movement by making a tax-deductible donation today.
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