President Barack Obama delivered one of the most crucial addresses of his presidency , seeking to convince an overwhelmingly skeptical public of the need to punish Syria militarily for alleged chemical weapons use while demonstrating a commitment to pursuing a surprise diplomatic opening to remove those stockpiles from the war-torn nation . With many in Washington and on Main Street demanding clarity during fast-moving events , Obama had five questions to answer Tuesday night : Did he do it ? 1 . With diplomacy in play , why is military action necessary ? This was the most important question the president needed to tackle in his 15-minute , prime-time address . In a major development , Syria has reportedly accepted a Russian proposal to hand over its chemical weapons stockpile to international control , but the details of what was actually agreed to are still murky . The White House is skeptical , cautioning that it could be a stall tactic . But it said it would take a hard look , and it pledged to work with international partners to see what can be achieved . Obama is dispatching Secretary of State John Kerry to Geneva , Switzerland , on Thursday to meet with his Russian counterpart to see where the initiative may go . A stunning turn that could silence Syria war drums . Obama spent most of the speech laying out a chronology of events and pushing for military action on moral , political and strategic grounds , saying that previous efforts to resolve the Syrian conflict diplomatically had failed . He painted a graphic picture of an August 21 attack that his administration says was carried out by the regime of Bashar al-Assad and killed more than 1,400 people . `` The images from this massacre are sickening : Men , women , children lying in rows , killed by poison gas . Others foaming at the mouth , gasping for breath . A father clutching his dead children , imploring them to get up and walk . On that terrible night , the world saw in gruesome detail the terrible nature of chemical weapons , and why the overwhelming majority of humanity has declared them off limits -- a crime against humanity and a violation of the laws of war , '' he said . He only brought up the Russian development later in the address , calling the offer an encouraging sign . But he warned that `` it 's too early to tell whether this offer will succeed , and any agreement must verify that the Assad regime keeps its commitments . '' He left open the possibility of diplomacy falling short , saying that he has ordered the military to maintain its posture in the region `` to keep the pressure on Assad . '' And he wrapped up by arguing that America must lead and that force was just in this case . `` America is not the world 's policeman . Terrible things happen across the globe , and it is beyond our means to right every wrong . But when , with modest effort and risk , we can stop children from being gassed to death , and thereby make our own children safer over the long run , I believe we should act . That 's what makes America different . That 's what makes us exceptional , '' he said . He did , however , put on hold the domestic effort intended to approve a military strike . He asked Congress hold off on voting on the issue -- a vote he probably did not have majority support for . Commentators said after the speech that most Americans probably understand the moral case , but they questioned whether Obama could ultimately sway public opinion to see things his way . A CNN/IRC International initial poll of viewers of the speech found that 47 % said Obama made a convincing case for action , compared with 50 % who said he did not . U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings , a Maryland Democrat and staunch Obama supporter who is undecided about the Syria issue , praised him for `` a very good job '' but said his position remained unchanged . `` It was not a wasted speech , '' said Cummings , noting that his constituents are tired of war . `` I thought he made a great moral argument . '' Share your view of the speech . 2 . Why should Americans worry about Syria ? Obama stressed again that the use of sarin gas in Syria was a moral abomination that Americans and the international community simply can not tolerate . But , simply put , Americans are sick of war . In a CNN/ORC poll released Monday , six in 10 say the Iraq war was a mistake , and about half say the same thing about Afghanistan . Three-quarters say the United States is not the world 's policeman . Additionally , nearly seven in 10 say that it 's not in the U.S. national interest to get involved in Syria 's civil war . Moreover , 72 % , say a U.S. airstrike would not achieve significant American goals . Still , Obama laid out a strategic rationale for military force , saying that what happens in Syria could affect allies in the region , including Israel -- all in the U.S. interest , he said . Inaction , he said , would leave al-Assad `` with no reason to stop using chemical weapons . '' And as the global ban against them erodes , `` other tyrants '' could acquire them and use them , as well against civilians and even American troops . `` If fighting spills beyond Syria 's borders , these weapons could threaten allies like Turkey , Jordan and Israel . And a failure to stand against the use of chemical weapons would weaken prohibitions against other weapons of mass destruction , and embolden Assad 's ally , Iran , which must decide whether to ignore international law by building a nuclear weapon or to take a more peaceful path , '' Obama said . CNN Poll : Part of Syria strike opposition is the messenger 's fault . Bruce Riedel , director of the Intelligence Project at the Brookings Institution , said an indirect connection to Americans ' security is a difficult case to make , `` and the president is not making it . '' `` I do n't think he can make a case , because I do n't think he knows what to do , '' Riedel added . 3 . What would be the endgame ? Obama explained the goal of military strikes . He has said the United States does not want to use the strike to take out al-Assad , institute regime change or even aid the rebels in the civil war . `` The purpose of this strike would be to deter Assad from using chemical weapons , to degrade his regime 's ability to use them and to make clear to the world that we will not tolerate their use , '' Obama said . Obama did say the United States could not `` resolve someone else 's civil war through force , '' and he said he would not send in American troops or pursue an open-ended war like those in Iraq or Afghanistan . `` I will not pursue a prolonged air campaign like Libya or Kosovo . This would be a targeted strike to achieve a clear objective , '' he said . `` Even a limited strike will send a message to Assad that no other nation can deliver , '' he said . `` A targeted strike can make Assad , or any other dictator , think twice before using chemical weapons . '' He said that `` the day after any military action , we would redouble our efforts to achieve a political solution that strengthens those who reject the forces of tyranny and extremism . '' Sen. Rand Paul , a Kentucky Republican and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee , told CNN after the speech that Obama did not provide a clear military objective for attacking Syria . He said bombing the regime will not truly hold al-Assad accountable and `` will create instability in the Middle East '' that would leave an opening for extremist elements in Syria allied with al Qaeda . U.S. Rep. David Valadao , R-California , agreed with Paul . `` The president has failed to deliver some sort of plan that tells the American people that we can do this and this is what we are trying to accomplish , '' he told CNN . U.S. Senate : How they 'll vote on Syria strike . 4 . If the U.S. attacks , what if al-Assad retaliates ? This is a major risk that concerns many members of Congress . If the U.S. military attack is extremely limited and al-Assad retaliates , what are the contingency plans ? Sen. Susan Collins , R-Maine , asked that critical question : `` What if we execute this strike and then he decides to use chemical weapons again . Do we strike again ? '' She said it 's one of her biggest concerns . Obama did not address the contingency scenario directly , other than to say that not responding would carry unacceptable risks . `` If we fail to act , the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons , '' he said , adding that continued use could make it easier for terrorists to get their hands on them . Al-Assad has said he would respond . `` You should expect everything , '' he told PBS and CBS interviewer Charlie Rose . Obama said the United States does not dismiss threats . `` But the Assad regime does not have the ability to seriously threaten our military . Any other retaliation they might seek is in line with threats that we face every day . Neither Assad nor his allies have any interest in escalation that would lead to his demise , '' Obama said . 5 . Now that Syria welcomes diplomacy , why did Obama address the public ? Obama told CNN 's Wolf Blitzer this week that he is n't convinced that Syria is telling the truth . The administration distrusts Syria and its ally Russia , and it worries that the proposal to hand over its chemical weapons stockpile is simply a tactic to buy time and derail a potential U.S. strike . While the administration indicated that it will look into Syria 's offer , the president does n't want to get burned . So he continued to press his case for a military strike . And if Syria 's offer proves empty , the president wo n't have lost any time waiting on the sidelines . Obama told the nation from the start : `` I want to talk to you about Syria -- why it matters and where we go from here . '' Riedel said the speech put the president in a difficult situation . `` He was trying to convince people of a war they do n't want , but he 's also saying wait , '' Riedel noted . Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , a co-host of CNN 's `` Crossfire , '' said Obama was misguided in going on national television with the situation so fluid and having told Congress to hold off on considering a force resolution to give diplomacy a chance . Rep. Valadao said the president 's speech did nothing to convince him to support a possible military strike . He said that after attending every possible briefing and listening to the speech , `` It 's locked me more into a solid 'no ' than anything . ''
Obama addressed the nation from the White House on Tuesday night . He addressed several key questions in a bid to sway public opinion . Poll : Many think Obama has not done a good job explaining the need to attack Syria . A Russian proposal on Syria 's chemical arms is affecting Obama 's case for action .