Syria strike test vote put on hold as Obama backs off 'red line'

           President Obama on Monday took a sharp turn away from his "red line" threat to Syria on the eve of taking his case to the American people, saying in an interview with Fox News that he's open to negotiations on an alternative plan that could avert a military strike. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unexpectedly postponed a test vote on authorizing President Obama to order military strikes against Syria set for Wednesday hours after the president took a sharp turn away from his "red line" threat to Syria on the eve of taking his case to the American people, saying in an interview with Fox News that he's open to negotiations on an alternative plan that could avert a military strike. Reid cited "international discussions" in postponing the vote to advance debate on the resolution authorizing the use of force against the forces of Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad. In the senate Wednesday, Reid said he had discussed delaying the vote with the President. Earlier Monday, Reid had spoken strongly in support of the resolution, saying of the alleged gas attack outside Damascus August 21, "Today, many Americans say that these atrocities are none of our business, that they're not our concern.
                                     Legislation approved in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week would give Obama a maximum of 90 days to carry out a military attack, and it includes a ban on combat operations on the ground in Syria. Both of those limitations were last-minute concessions to critics of a military option, and it was unclear whether Reid would seek additional changes to build support. The president's comments come after a proposal to have the Syrian government relinquish control of its stockpile quickly caught fire in the international community and in Washington. As the United Nations secretary-general and several U.S allies gravitated toward the proposal, the Obama administration conceded that it would seriously consider it. The American people are not persuaded, Obama acknowledged. "Right now, members of congress who are just getting back still have questions.
                                         Obama stressed in the interview that the situation in Syriais "difficult, but the U.S. was looking at taking action because chemical weapons-- which the administration accuses the Assad regime of using are indiscriminate. He also said he understands American's skepticism over U.S. involvement. The American people are right not to want to have us entangled in a sectarian civil war inside of Syria," The Associated Press contributed to its report.