Barack Obama has filed a formal request seeking authorization from legislators to launch a "limited" strike on Syria, in response to its government's alleged use of chemical weapons. The president said the proposed strike was not "time-sensitive".
The draft legislation authorizes Obama to use the "Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate" in order to "prevent or deter the use or proliferation" of chemical weapons and to "protect the United States and its allies" against the chemical threat.
Earlier on Saturday Obama made a press statement outside the White House saying, "over the last several days, we have heard from members of Congress who want their voices to be heard. I absolutely agree."
The President insisted that he did not need the approval of the legislative assembly, but it would make the case for the strike "stronger".
Obama said that he sought to "make the Assad regime accountable" for the August 21 attack near Damascus in which the US says more than 1,500 civilians were killed with a toxic gas.
But he also said that the mission will be "effective tomorrow or next week or one month from now."
"We are prepared to strike whenever we choose," said the President.
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