Free Syrian Army fighters prepare to launch a rocket against forces loyal Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Deir al-Zor August 29, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIRUT: Syria's main opposition bloc said Sunday it was disappointed with US President Barack Obama's decision to seek approval from Congress for action against the regime, but said it believed lawmakers would OK a strike.
"We had a feeling of disappointment. We were expecting things to be quicker, that a strike would be imminent... But we believe Congress will approve a strike," said Samir Nashar, a top official at the Syrian National Coalition.
To general surprise, Obama on Saturday postponed threatened missile strikes against Syria that the world had thought were imminent, opting instead for the risky gamble of getting Congress approval.
This effectively pushes back any military action aimed at punishing the regime over an alleged poison gas attack until at least September 9, when US lawmakers return from their summer recess.
Nashar said the coalition was confident that Arab foreign ministers who meet Sunday in Cairo would give "very strong support" to US-led military action.
"The Turkish position is also very important. Washington needs this support," the Istanbul-based official said.
"The coalition will get in touch with Arab countries and Turkey so that they cooperate as much as possible with the United States," he said.
"We will try to push these countries to take part in the military operation, which will greatly alleviate the suffering of Syrians."
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@unbelievable: America has 3000 miles of ocean to the East, 5000 miles of ocean to the West, Canada in the North and Mexico to the South...............has it ever been imminently threatened ? Please don't quote 9/11 as an example that would be laughable.
If Congress approves the attack it will be very harmful for the whole world because the fight is not in between the Syrian official and Syrian Liberation army but it is in between the Syrian official army block which include ( Russia ,Iran ,Iraq and other Shia dominant countries and some little support from china )and Syrian Liberation army block which include ( Saudi Arbia , America , Turki , Egypt , Tunis and other Suni Countries and some little support from Europe Countries ) . all the countries are providing weapons to their supporters to fight against their rival i think all the countries who are involve in this War can go into the World War 3rd because both sides are equally equipped so how fight will end it will end without any result like NATO War in Afghanistan so it is better for congress to not approve this strike.
Congress may OK the strike - but I suspect otherwise. American's got zero credit when they risked their sons/daughters to save Muslim's in the Balkan's and it's unlikely they will get any credit if they do so in Syria. It's a lose-lose situation and the American public is tired of it's leaders dragging them into conflicts where there is no immanent danger to the American public.