Members of Congress Skeptical About Odds of Authorizing Military Action in Syria

Obama says he wants it but doesn't need it

Members of Congress from across the political spectrum reacted with deep skepticism Sunday to President Obama's bid for approval of strikes against Syria, with lawmakers raising doubts about whether a vote would succeed.

Few of the approximately 100 members of Congress who returned to Washington for a classified intelligence briefing Sunday said they would support the administration's request to authorize the use of force, even though they showed little doubt that Syrian President Bashar Assad's government was behind the alleged chemical weapons attack on Aug. 21.