Canada>Canada canada med store “This initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force, particularly because Russia is one of Assad’s strongest allies,” Obama said. “I have therefore asked the leaders of Congress to postpone a vote to authorise the use of force while we pursue this diplomatic path. Meanwhile, I’ve ordered our military to maintain their current posture to keep the pressure on Assad and to be in a position to respond if diplomacy fails.”