Americans still largely against Syria strikes – poll

US opinion remains strongly against military strikes on Syria, according to a poll released Monday.

According to Voice of Russia, the CNN poll found 59 per cent of those surveyed oppose military action, while 39 per cent are in favour of it.

If Congress were to ultimately vote against strikes, then the numbers are even more stark: 71 per cent of Americans said they would then oppose a strike, and only 27 per cent would approve.

The poll was conducted from Friday to Sunday, and included 1,022 respondents.

Obama can’t act against Syria without Congressional approval – Senator Ted Cruz

US Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Sunday he doesn’t think President Barack Obama has the authority to order a military strike on Syria without Congressional approval.

Congress is debating whether to approve Obama’s measure to take military action against the Syrian government.

Should Congress not approve the measure, Cruz, in an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” said Obama shouldn’t be able to move forward with the strike.

“It would be contrary to the Constitution,” he said.

An unofficial tally by ABC News suggest that a resolution to strike Syria would fail in the House of Representatives and a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that nearly 6 in 10 Americans opposed a unilateral US strike on Syria.

Cruz has been a critic of the President’s push for military action against Syria, saying on “This Week” Sunday that “I think a military attack is a mistake.” 

R.S