Officials: Obama reversed course, decided Friday night to seek Congress’ authority on Syria

WASHINGTON – Senior administration officials say President Barack Obama planned to take military action against Syria without congressional authorization, but told aides Friday night that he had changed his mind.

Obama announced to the public Saturday that he wanted to launch a military strike, but that he first would seek approval from lawmakers.

The administration officials described a president overriding all his top national security advisers, who believed Obama had the authority to act on his own.

But these officials say the president spent much of the week wrestling with Congress’ role in authorizing force and made the decision Friday night after a lengthy discussion with his chief of staff, Denis McDonough.

The administration officials requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Obama’s decision-making by name.

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