Obama to deliver statement on Syria today
WASHINGTON -- President Obama plans to make a statement Saturday as his administration considers missile strikes on Syria, but a White House official said he would not announce imminent military operations.
The official, who was not authorized to discuss the president’s remarks and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Obama would provide an update to the American people about his decisions on how to proceed.
The White House said the president would speak from the Rose Garden at 1:15 p.m. Eastern time (10:15 a.m. Pacific).
Obama has been deliberating for more than a week about how to respond to what intelligence officials say was a brutal chemical weapons attack ordered by the government of President Bashar Assad.
The president has insisted that Assad must be held accountable for braking “international norms” barring use of chemical weapons.
Administration officials were slated to brief lawmakers from both parties on plans Saturday.
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kathleen.hennessey@latimes.com
Twitter: @khennessey
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