US on retreat, says Syria

A Syrian state-run newspaper says that President Barack Obama’s decision to seek congressional approval before taking military action against Syria marks “the start of the historical American retreat”.

In a front-page editorial, the Al-Thawra daily says Mr Obama’s reluctance to carry out strikes against Syria stems from his “sense of implicit defeat and the disappearance of his allies”. It also says the US president worries about limited intervention turning into “an open war has pushed him to seek Congress’ consent”.