Obama: US has obligation as world leader to act

[August 31, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he recognizes the world and the U.S. are war-weary in the face of potential military action against Syria.

But he says the United States has an obligation "as a leader in the world" to hold countries accountable if they violate international norms.

Obama says he has strong preference for multilateral action. But he says, quote, "we don't want the world to be paralyzed."

Regarding the U.N., Obama says, quote, "there is an incapacity for the Security Council to move forward."

Despite a vote in Britain against taking action in Syria, Obama indicates that France is with him.

Obama's comments came as his administration made its intelligence case against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad for a chemical attack against civilians earlier this month.

[Associated Press]

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