USS Ramage, one of the five destroyers in
the eastern Mediterannean poised to attack
Syria if the order is given.
As
noted here last week, no matter who asks, the response is the same: Americans do not favor conducting airstrikes against Syria. While the polls show some fairly large differences in the gap between supporters and opponents of a bombing campaign founded on what the Obama administration says have been repeated chemical weapons attacks by the regime of Bashir al-Assad, the White House campaign to convince Americans that an attack must be undertaken hasn't produced any obvious results in favor.
Here are the latest numbers from a CNN/Opinon Research International taken September 6-8:
After reports that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons to kill civilians in that country, Congress is considering a resolution to authorize limited U.S. military action in Syria. The resolution only authorizes military action for 60 to 90 days and it bars the use of U.S. troops in a combat role in Syria. Do you think Congress should or should not pass this resolution?
Should pass 39%
Should not pass 59%
No opinion 2%
Would you favor or oppose U.S. air strikes against military targets in Syria if Congress passes that resolution?
Favor 43%
Oppose 55%
No opinion 2%
And would you favor or oppose U.S. air strikes against military targets in Syria if Congress does NOT pass that resolution?
Favor 27%
Oppose 71%
No opinion 1%
So, even if Congress were to approve, the majority of Americans say no to airstrikes. And less than a third are in the same camp as John Kerry, who says, just as President Obama has said, that the administration doesn't need authorization from Congress to launch an attack on Syria.
Perhaps, while doing whip counts of congressional votes in this matter, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, ThinkProgress, ABC and all the rest should ask members of Congress if they think the president has the authority to attack Syria without their thumbs-up.
12:28 PM PT: The Washington Post reports that there has been a sharp move into the nay column by Republicans.