Boehner: We're Backing Obama on Syria

President Obama took a big step forward in his quest to gain Congressional approval for a strike on Syria, convincing the leaders of both parties in the House to back his play. Obama held a meeting with John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi, and other top lawmakers this morning, arguing that military action was necessary, but would be limited. "This is not Iraq, and this is not Afghanistan," he promised, according to CNN. He said he was confident Congress would back him, and soon thereafter, both Boehner and Pelosi announced that they would.

"The United States for our entire history has stood up for democracy and freedom," Boehner said, according to the Washington Post. "These weapons have to be responded to." Eric Cantor issued a statement saying that he, too, would vote to intervene—though he didn't sound eager to strong-arm his caucus into following suit. "It is up to President Obama to make the case to Congress," he wrote, "and I hope he is successful." Mitch McConnell was also at the meeting, but hasn't yet voiced his intentions—though Obama already has two Senate Republicans in his corner in John McCain and Lindsey Graham. But despite all that support, the vote could be close, USA Today warns, as some lawmakers worry that the resolution is too open-ended. (More Syria stories.)