Three Days in Europe: Obama Seeks International Support for Syria Strike

Obama and Putin have candid conversation.

Meet the Press - President Obama has taken his lobbying efforts abroad, landing in Sweden on Sept. 4 to kick off a three-day European trip to shore up support for a missile attack inside Syria. Obama will attend the G20 Summit in Russia the next day and subsequently meet with the most prominent skeptic about military intervention, President Vladmir Putin. Keep reading to learn more about this delicate moment in Obama’s presidency. — Patrice Peck(Photo: ANDERS WIKLUND/AFP/Getty Images)

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Meet the Press - President Obama has taken his lobbying efforts abroad, landing in Sweden on Sept. 4 to kick off a three-day European trip to shore up support for a missile attack inside Syria. Obama will attend the G20 Summit in Russia the next day and subsequently meet with the most prominent skeptic about military intervention, President Vladmir Putin. Keep reading to learn more about this delicate moment in Obama’s presidency. — Patrice Peck(Photo: ANDERS WIKLUND/AFP/Getty Images)

Global Backing - During this trip, Obama will likely learn whether the United States has far-reaching support for ordering a cruise missile attack on the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. president’s administration has concluded that Assad’s regime was to blame for a chemical weapon attack that killed 1,400 people near the Syrian capital, Damascus, last month.(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

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Global Backing - During this trip, Obama will likely learn whether the United States has far-reaching support for ordering a cruise missile attack on the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. president’s administration has concluded that Assad’s regime was to blame for a chemical weapon attack that killed 1,400 people near the Syrian capital, Damascus, last month.(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

First Stop: Sweden - The president met with Sweden Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt for their bilateral meeting before answering questions at a joint press conference. While there, he referred to the chemical weapon treaty, saying "I didn't set a red line; the world set a red line when governments representing 98 percent of the world's population said the use of chemical weapons [is] abhorrent."(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

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First Stop: Sweden - The president met with Sweden Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt for their bilateral meeting before answering questions at a joint press conference. While there, he referred to the chemical weapon treaty, saying "I didn't set a red line; the world set a red line when governments representing 98 percent of the world's population said the use of chemical weapons [is] abhorrent."(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

“On the Line” - "My credibility is not on the line. The international community's credibility is on the line," Obama told reporters at the conference. "And America and Congress' credibility is on the line, because we give lip service to the notion that these international norms are important."(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

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“On the Line” - "My credibility is not on the line. The international community's credibility is on the line," Obama told reporters at the conference. "And America and Congress' credibility is on the line, because we give lip service to the notion that these international norms are important."(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Putin to Cooperate? - Showing his first sign of international compromise, Russian leader Putin revealed on Sept. 4 that he would “not rule out” backing military action if watertight proof justified using force and the U.N. Security Council approved the move.(Photo: Sang Tan - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

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Putin to Cooperate? - Showing his first sign of international compromise, Russian leader Putin revealed on Sept. 4 that he would “not rule out” backing military action if watertight proof justified using force and the U.N. Security Council approved the move.(Photo: Sang Tan - WPA Pool /Getty Images)

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The Group of Twenty - Putin’s comments came on the eve of his hosting the two-day G20 Summit, a forum that could serve as a vehicle for reconciliation between world powers, like China, Britain and France, who are currently deadlocked in the U.N. Security Council.(Photo: OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

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The Group of Twenty - Putin’s comments came on the eve of his hosting the two-day G20 Summit, a forum that could serve as a vehicle for reconciliation between world powers, like China, Britain and France, who are currently deadlocked in the U.N. Security Council.(Photo: OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP/Getty Images)

Back Home on the Hill - While Obama is in Europe, a divided U.S. Congress will continue to debate whether to grant authorization for a strike on Syria. Key lawmakers, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R- Virginia,) have publicly backed Obama, but many lawmakers remain reluctant about the possibility of the U.S. entering another conflict in the Middle East.(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

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Back Home on the Hill - While Obama is in Europe, a divided U.S. Congress will continue to debate whether to grant authorization for a strike on Syria. Key lawmakers, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R- Virginia,) have publicly backed Obama, but many lawmakers remain reluctant about the possibility of the U.S. entering another conflict in the Middle East.(Photo: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

Voting Day - Ramping up to the Senate and House committee votes on the president’s request, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be voting as early as Sept. 4 on authorizing a strike inside Syria.(Photo: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

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Voting Day - Ramping up to the Senate and House committee votes on the president’s request, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be voting as early as Sept. 4 on authorizing a strike inside Syria.(Photo: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

A Majority Opposes - According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 59 percent of Americans are against the proposed missile strike. Stay tuned to BET.com as Obama heads to St. Petersburg, Russia, for the G20 Summit.(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

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A Majority Opposes - According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 59 percent of Americans are against the proposed missile strike. Stay tuned to BET.com as Obama heads to St. Petersburg, Russia, for the G20 Summit.(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

The Eagle Has Landed - On Sept. 5, the president landed in St. Petersburg, Russia, ahead of the G-20 summit later that day.(Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)

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The Eagle Has Landed - On Sept. 5, the president landed in St. Petersburg, Russia, ahead of the G-20 summit later that day.(Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)

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Summit Showdown - In his first public interaction with Vladimir Putin since requesting a strike on Syria, Obama exchanged a handshake with the Russian leader and engaged in small talk on his arrival to the Konstantinovsky Palace. Despite the pleasantries, Putin and Obama are expected to clash over Syria, with Putin having recently threatened to take action if the U.S. strikes Assad.(Photo: ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images)

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Summit Showdown - In his first public interaction with Vladimir Putin since requesting a strike on Syria, Obama exchanged a handshake with the Russian leader and engaged in small talk on his arrival to the Konstantinovsky Palace. Despite the pleasantries, Putin and Obama are expected to clash over Syria, with Putin having recently threatened to take action if the U.S. strikes Assad.(Photo: ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images)

World Leaders Arrive - Originally, the two-day summit had been expected to focus on the world economy and growth, but the Syrian conflict will more than likely overshadow the formal agenda.(Photo: Iliya Pitalev/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images)

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World Leaders Arrive - Originally, the two-day summit had been expected to focus on the world economy and growth, but the Syrian conflict will more than likely overshadow the formal agenda.(Photo: Iliya Pitalev/Host Photo Agency via Getty Images)

The Last Day - Having met privately with Vladimir Putin on the last day of the summit, Obama says they had a “candid and constructive conversation” on Syria, according to AP. Ten member s of the G20 joined the U.S. in blaming the Syrian presidency for last month’s gas attack, calling for a global response. The president also acknowledged the American public’s skepticism regarding military action, and will address the nation on Sept. 10.(Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

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The Last Day - Having met privately with Vladimir Putin on the last day of the summit, Obama says they had a “candid and constructive conversation” on Syria, according to AP. Ten member s of the G20 joined the U.S. in blaming the Syrian presidency for last month’s gas attack, calling for a global response. The president also acknowledged the American public’s skepticism regarding military action, and will address the nation on Sept. 10.(Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)