Protesters against U.S. military action in
Syria march to Capitol Hill from the White House in Washington,
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. President Barack Obama has asked the U.S.
Congress to approve the use of force. A final vote in the U.S. Senate is
expected at the end of the coming week. A U.S. House vote is likely in
the week of Sept. 16. Photo: Carolyn Kaster
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House asserted Sunday that a "common-sense
test" dictates the Syrian government is responsible for a chemical
weapons attack that President Barack Obama says demands a U.S. military
response.
But Obama's top aide says the administration lacks "irrefutable,
beyond-a-reasonable-doubt evidence" that skeptical Americans, including
lawmakers who will start voting on military action this week, are
seeking.
"This is not a court of law. And intelligence does not work that way,"
White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said, part of a five-network
public relations blitz Sunday to build support for limited strikes
against Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"The common-sense test says he is responsible for this. He should be
held to account," McDonough said of the Syrian leader who for two years
has resisted calls from inside and outside his country to step down.
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