President Obama is set to address the U.S public on Tuesday about Syria, and acknowledged that efforts to win congressional and international support for a military strike have been a “hard sell.” Speaking to reporters after the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Obama said: “I do consider it part of my job to help make the case and to explain to the American people exactly why I think this is the right thing to do.” Tuesday’s speech figures to be a pivotal moment as Obama seeks authorization from Congress for action against Syria.

Join this Institute for Policy Studies – Busboys & Poets event on Syria and how to mobilize active opposition to the threat of military strikes and to discuss alternatives including forceful diplomacy instead of military force. We will begin with a mix and mingle before watching President Obama’s speech at 9:00. Followed by a panel of speakers who will lead a discussion on how to respond.

Speakers include:

• Ramah Kudaimi, Syrian-American activist based in DC with an MA in Conflict Resolution from Georgetown University, her most recent article is Do’s and Don’t’s for Progressives Discussing Syria.
• Rich Rubenstein, professor of Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, his most recent article is Syria and the Tragic Flaw in American Foreign Policy,
• Phyllis Bennis, fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies, her most recent articles include “Striking Syria: Illegal, Immoral and Dangerous and Optimism and Fear: President Obama and War on Syria