He addressed the nation Tuesday night saying he would first let diplomatic options play out, before taking any action.

Former Bend pastor, Roula Alkhouri grew up in Syria.

She is now a pastor in New York State and thinks negotiations and diplomacy should be the first options, not the military.  She's hopeful about a proposal to have an international body remove Syria's chemical weapons.

"I'm excited and it looks like there have been other ways, other options, not just miltiary options that wouldn't accomplish anything.  Let's remove the weapons.  I hope it works out."

Alkhouri's parents still live in Syria near Damascus.

She believes any american military intervention would just be adding to the problem.

She says too many countries are invovled already for their own political purposes.