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  • The President: This week, when I addressed the nation on Syria,

  • I said that - in part because of the credible threat

  • of U.S. military force -

  • there is the possibility of a diplomatic solution.

  • Russia has indicated a new willingness to join

  • with the international community

  • in pushing Syria to give up its chemical weapons,

  • which the Assad regime used in an attack

  • that killed more than 1,000 people on August 21.

  • I also asked Congress to postpone a vote on the use

  • of military force while we pursue this diplomatic path.

  • And that's what we're doing.

  • At my direction, Secretary of State Kerry

  • is in discussions with his Russian counterpart.

  • But we're making it clear that this can't be a stalling tactic.

  • Any agreement needs to verify that the Assad regime and Russia

  • are keeping their commitments:

  • that means working to turn Syria's chemical weapons over

  • to international control

  • and ultimately destroying them.

  • This would allow us to achieve our goal -

  • deterring the Syrian regime from using chemical weapons,

  • degrading their ability to use them,

  • and making it clear to the world

  • that we won't tolerate their use.

  • We've seen indications of progress.

  • As recently as a week ago,

  • the Assad regime would not admit

  • that it possessed chemical weapons.

  • Today, it does.

  • Syria has signaled a willingness to join with 189 other nations,

  • representing 98 percent of humanity,

  • in abiding by an international agreement

  • that prohibits the use of chemical weapons.

  • And Russia has staked its own credibility

  • on supporting this outcome.

  • These are all positive developments.

  • We'll keep working with the international community

  • to see that Assad gives up his chemical weapons

  • so that they can be destroyed.

  • We will continue rallying support

  • from allies around the world

  • who agree on the need for action

  • to deter the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

  • And if current discussions produce a serious plan,

  • I'm prepared to move forward with it.

  • But we are not just going to take Russia

  • and Assad's word for it.

  • We need to see concrete actions to demonstrate that Assad

  • is serious about giving up his chemical weapons.

  • And since this plan emerged

  • only with a credible threat of U.S. military action,

  • we will maintain our military posture in the region

  • to keep the pressure on the Assad regime.

  • And if diplomacy fails,

  • the United States and the international community

  • must remain prepared to act.

  • The use of chemical weapons anywhere in the world

  • is an affront to human dignity

  • and a threat to the security of people everywhere.

  • As I have said for weeks,

  • the international community must respond to this outrage.

  • A dictator must not be allowed

  • to gas children in their beds with impunity.

  • And we cannot risk poison gas

  • becoming the new weapon of choice

  • for terrorists and tyrants the world over.

  • We have a duty to preserve a world free from the fear

  • of chemical weapons for our children.

  • But if there is any chance of achieving that goal

  • without resorting to force,

  • then I believe we have a responsibility

  • to pursue that path.

  • Thank you.

The President: This week, when I addressed the nation on Syria,

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