SYRIA VOTE

Senate Bill Gives Syria 45 Days

To sign chemical weapons ban.

An alternative to President Obama’s Syria strike plan has risen in the Senate that would give Bashar al-Assad 45 days to sign a chemical weapons ban before the unleashing of U.S. military might on the war-torn country. The draft bill comes from Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp and could offer an alternative for lawmakers who are reluctant to enter a fray that’s both unpopular with their constituents and offers no definite resolution. The proposal requires Obama to use the 45 days to submit a strategic plan to Congress and seek a diplomatic solution to restricting the country’s use of chemical weapons.