Obama won't say it, but vote on Syria has high stakes for his presidency
(Reuters) - It seems that everyone in Washington is talking about it except President Barack Obama: When Congress votes on the administration's request to use military force in Syria, the future of his presidency could well be on the line.
A defeat, a distinct possibility, would hobble Obama in affairs both foreign and domestic, particularly if fellow Democrats collaborate in it.
It will hurt him at a critical juncture, as he confronts not only Syria, but the nuclear activities of Iran and North Korea, another round of battles with Republicans over fiscal issues, an immigration bill, and a possibly difficult nomination fight over a new chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Using Obama's presidency as an argument as Congress ponders a resolution authorizing military action is off-limits for the administration - it would make the debate about Obama and cost the president votes from some Republicans he is counting on.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/07/uk-syria-crisis-obama-consequences-analy-idUKBRE98605820130907
Obama plunges into high-stakes week on Syria .
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Back on American soil, President Barack Obama is plunging into a frenetic, high-stakes week of selling a skeptical Congress on a military strike ahead of a critical vote on Syria.
For a president not known for investing heavily in consultations with Capitol Hill, the coming days represent one of the most intense periods of congressional outreach in his presidency. Obama seeks to salvage a policy whose fate he's placed in lawmakers' hands, planning for himself and for aides a flurry of speeches, phone calls, briefings and personal visits to Democrats and Republicans alike.
The lobbying campaign culminates Tuesday, the evening before a key vote is expected in the Senate, when Obama will address the nation from the White House to make his case that America's military must once again raise arms to protect a value he says the world simply cannot afford to place in jeopardy.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UNITED_STATES_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-07-03-20-47
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for example against effective acts of war in the absence of firm hard evidence. Having been mugged off previously on the Iraq war we're unlikely to fall for that stunt again.
The absence of support from elsewhere is contributing to weakening his case in the US. Even NATO have made it clear they will only be involved in relation to protecting Turkey's interests.
edits are spelling errors etc. 
