Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will oppose President Barack Obama's resolution authorizing a military strike against Syria.
The Kentucky Republican says no vital national security risk is at play and there are too many unanswered questions about the United States' long-term strategy in Syria.
McConnell says the proposal is, quote, "utterly detached from a wider strategy to end the civil war" in Syria.
McConnell becomes the first congressional leader to oppose Obama on his plans to punish Syria's President Bashar Assad. The White House accuses Assad of using chemical weapons against his own people.
Congressional support for a strike has been weakening even as lawmakers scramble to respond to a Russian proposal to secure Assad's chemical arsenal.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
