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 during his 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.

Asked in another interview about doubt, McDonough was direct: "No question in my mind."

The U.S., citing intelligence reports, says the lethal nerve agent sarin was used in an Aug. 21 attack outside Damascus, and that 1,429 people died, including 426 children.

The number is higher than that, said Khalid Saleh, head of the press office at the anti-Assad Syrian Coalition, who was in Washington to lobby lawmakers to authorize the strikes. Some of those involved in the attacks later died in their homes and opposition leaders were weighing releasing a full list of names of the dead.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information from a network of anti-government activists, says it has so far only been able to confirm 502 dead.

The actual tally of those killed by chemical weapons is scant compared to the sum of all killed in the upheaval: more than 100,000, according to the United Nations.

In an interview Sunday, Assad told U.S. journalist Charlie Rose there is not conclusive evidence about who is to blame for the chemical weapons attacks and again suggested the rebels were responsible. From Beirut, Rose described his interview, which is to be released Monday on the CBS morning program that Rose hosts, with the full interview airing later in the day on Rose's PBS program.

Asked about Assad's claims there is no evidence he used the weapons, Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters in London: "The evidence speaks for itself."

At the same time, Obama has planned his own public relations effort. He has scheduled six network interviews on Monday and then a primetime speech to the nation from the White House on Tuesday, the eve of the first votes in Congress.

Sunday night, Obama dropped in on a dinner held by Vice President Joe Biden for Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Bob Corker of Tennessee.

Obama will meet with Senate Democrats Tuesday, a Senate aide said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss the meeting before its official announcement.

Obama faces a tough audience on Capitol Hill. A survey by The Associated Press shows that House members who are staking out positions are either opposed to or leaning against Obama's plan for a military strike by more than a 6-1 margin.

"Lobbing a few Tomahawk missiles will not restore our credibility overseas," said Rep. Mike McCaul, the Texas Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee.

Added Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., "For the president to say that this is just a very quick thing and we're out of there, that's how long wars start."

Almost half of the 433 House members and a third of the 100-member Senate remain undecided, the AP survey found. Two seats in the 435-member House are vacant.

"Just because Assad is a murderous tyrant doesn't mean his opponents are any better," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

But some of Assad's opponents are pleading for aid.

"The world is watching, and Syrians are wondering: When is the international community going to act and intervene to protect them?" said Saleh.

On Saturday, a U.S. official released a DVD compilation of videos showing attack victims that the official said were shown to senators during Thursday's classified briefing. The graphic images have become a rallying point for the administration. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee, also posted videos on the committee's website.

But McDonough conceded the United States doesn't have concrete evidence Assad was behind the chemical attacks.

Recent opinion surveys show intense American skepticism about military intervention in Syria, even among those who believe Syria's government used chemical weapons on its people.

Congress, perhaps, is even more dubious.

"It's an uphill slog," said Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who supports strikes on Assad.

"I think it's very clear he's lost support in the last week," Rogers added, speaking of the president.

Complicating the effort in the Senate is the possibility that 60 votes may be required to authorize a strike.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said he would consider a filibuster, but noted the delay tactic was unlikely to permanently nix a vote. Paul would, however, insist his colleagues consider an amendment to the resolution that would bar Obama from launching strikes if Congress votes against the measure.

Still, Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, has predicted authorization and McDonough, too, on Sunday telegraphed optimism.

"They do not dispute the intelligence when we speak with them," McDonough said of members of Congress.

But while the public discussion lacks a direct link between Assad and weapons, the private briefs are no better, two lawmakers said.

"The evidence is not as strong as the public statements that the president and the administration have been making," said Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich. "There are some things that are being embellished in the public statements. ... The briefings have actually made me more skeptical about the situation."

Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., said, "They have evidence showing the regime has probably the responsibility for the attacks."

But that's not enough to start military strikes. "They haven't linked it directly to Assad, in my estimation," said McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

McDonough, an Obama foreign policy adviser dating back to his 2008 presidential campaign, said the dots connect themselves.

The material was delivered by "rockets which we know the Assad regime has and we have no indication that the opposition has."

Congress resumes work Monday after its summer break.

Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, plans to discuss Syria in a speech Monday at the New America Foundation and later meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Bipartisan, classified briefings for Congress are set for Monday and Wednesday.

McDonough plans to meet Tuesday with the House Democratic Caucus.

Obama planned to address the nation on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's first showdown vote in the Senate over a resolution that would authorize the "limited and specified use" of U.S. armed forces against Syria for no more than 90 days and barring American ground troops from combat. A final vote is expected at week's end.

A House vote appears likely during the week of Sept. 16.

Source: Associated Press

http://www.infonubia.com/2013/09/us-proven-link-of-assad-to-gas-attack.html

I like obama brand of politics, if Congress support the strike, then they can not accuse obama of taking the us to war unilaterally, if congress opposes the strike, republicans can not accuse obama of being a weakling.

To me i think someone need to bomb Syria and destroy their capability of killing civilians. But i doubt if that will solve anything. real hope have come from the un. But they are so divided

ogb5: I like obama brand of politics, if Congress support the strike, then they can not accuse obama of taking the us to war unilaterally, if congress opposes the strike, republicans can not accuse obama of being a weakling.

To me i think someone need to bomb Syria and destroy their capability of killing civilians. But i doubt if that will solve anything. real hope have come from the un. But they are so divided

On the contrary, he's already being called a weakling. If anything, this just buttress their point.

I really think we should wait on the UN report cos right now there isn't a clear evidence that suggests that Assad ordered the chemical attack.

The other dilemma is the infiltration of the rebels by al Qaeda. That's something else that isn't being talked about much. What does victory look like for the US? Can we go at it alone without support from the international community? How do we deal with a possible attack on our allies if Iran and other countries supporting Syria retaliates? These are some of the serious questions that needs to be answered by the president.

prymesolution:
On the contrary, he's already being called a weakling. If anything, this just buttress their point.

I really think we should wait on the UN report cos right now there isn't a clear evidence that suggests that Assad ordered the chemical attack.

The other dilemma is the infiltration of the rebels by al Qaeda. That's something else that isn't being talked about much. What does victory look like for the US? Can we go at it alone without support from the international community? How do we deal with a possible attack on our allies if Iran and other countries supporting Syria retaliates? These are some of the serious questions that needs to be answered by the president.

Whoever the us support in the middle east will always have some element of dislike for America. It all over the middle east. al qeada infiltrated the rebels because the world waited too long to act in Syria. No one will reject the help of even the worst terrorist organization if he is being killed by his government while the world looks the other way.

mascot87: I still have this question for Assad,why is he stockpiling chemical weapons when he knows that it has been banned from use by the international community.What is he planning to use the chemical weapons to do? For this singular reason,I support military intervention in that country cos Assad is not only a treat to his people but also to the world

can you also tell us why America is the largest holder of chemical weapons? Some of you just like to open your mouth.

America is the largest world Stockpiller of chemical weapons.Knowing America's love for the rebels, I suspect that they may have sent the weapon to the rebels and when the stuff backfired, they now blame it on Assad. I dont believe Obama one bit on this one! Again the rebels are Al qeada backed.

And the imperialists? Will they sit with their arms crossed? No! The system they practice is the cause of the evils from which we are suffering, but they will try to obscure the facts with spurious allegations, of which they are masters. - Che Guevara(1964)

It's a very thorny issue for the US