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Syria crisis: Hints of a US-Muslim divide Syria crisis: Hints of a US-Muslim divide on Obama plan
(35 minutes later)
At an Islamic conference in Washington DC, the BBC's Tara McKelvey finds delegates deeply split about President Obama's plan to attack Syria. At an Islamic conference in Washington DC, the BBC's Tara McKelvey found delegates split about President Obama's plan to attack Syria.
Ziyad Shalaby, a graduate student at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, says the US should launch strikes against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.Ziyad Shalaby, a graduate student at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, says the US should launch strikes against President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
Mr Shalaby and his fiancee, Amal Omar were at the Washington Convention Center in the US capital on Sunday for a conference sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America. Mr Shalaby and his fiancee, Amal Omar, were at the Washington Convention Center in the US capital on Sunday for a conference sponsored by the Islamic Society of North America.
The gathering was billed as one of the largest gatherings of American Muslims in the US. The event was billed as one of the largest gatherings of American Muslims in the US.
People attended lectures on such subjects as spirituality and Muslim dating. But in the hallways they were talking about Syria.People attended lectures on such subjects as spirituality and Muslim dating. But in the hallways they were talking about Syria.
Mr Shalaby and others are following the Syria debates on Capitol Hill. They are also struggling with the question of what the US should do to help ease the crisis in the war-torn country.Mr Shalaby and others are following the Syria debates on Capitol Hill. They are also struggling with the question of what the US should do to help ease the crisis in the war-torn country.
He said he believes Mr Obama should follow through on his statements about retaliation. Otherwise, Mr Shalaby said: "It makes us look very weak - and gives the US a bad reputation in the Muslim world.He said he believes Mr Obama should follow through on his statements about retaliation. Otherwise, Mr Shalaby said: "It makes us look very weak - and gives the US a bad reputation in the Muslim world.
"We say we're going to help, and then nothing gets done.""We say we're going to help, and then nothing gets done."
Standing in the cavernous hall of the convention centre, Ms Omar said the US should follow up on its threat.Standing in the cavernous hall of the convention centre, Ms Omar said the US should follow up on its threat.
"We shouldn't have to wait for it to get worse," said the Virginia Tech senior. "We shouldn't have to wait for an American life to be taken before the US steps in.""We shouldn't have to wait for it to get worse," said the Virginia Tech senior. "We shouldn't have to wait for an American life to be taken before the US steps in."
Overall people in the US are divided about the plans for a military strike on Syria.Overall people in the US are divided about the plans for a military strike on Syria.
'Really scary''Really scary'
Forty-eight percent of Americans think the US should not launch airstrikes against Syria, according to a recent survey by Pew Research Center.Forty-eight percent of Americans think the US should not launch airstrikes against Syria, according to a recent survey by Pew Research Center.
Twenty-nine percent of Americans favour the strikes, according to the Pew survey. The rest are unsure.Twenty-nine percent of Americans favour the strikes, according to the Pew survey. The rest are unsure.
Kiran Ahter, a chemical engineer who also attended the Washington conference, said she has watched videos of the carnage in Syria - and believes Americans should act.Kiran Ahter, a chemical engineer who also attended the Washington conference, said she has watched videos of the carnage in Syria - and believes Americans should act.
"It's really scary," she said. "They need help. They don't have that many resources, and we do.""It's really scary," she said. "They need help. They don't have that many resources, and we do."
Minhaj Baqai, a student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, described the situation as "a modern-day holocaust". He also said he believes the US should intervene militarily in Syria.Minhaj Baqai, a student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, described the situation as "a modern-day holocaust". He also said he believes the US should intervene militarily in Syria.
"Just like we played a role in the 1940s, we should offer aid now," he said. "It's the right thing to do.""Just like we played a role in the 1940s, we should offer aid now," he said. "It's the right thing to do."
Not everyone agrees.Not everyone agrees.
At Layalina, a Syrian-owned restaurant in nearby Arlington, Virginia, a manager, Husni Jarrar, was less worked up about the events in Damascus.At Layalina, a Syrian-owned restaurant in nearby Arlington, Virginia, a manager, Husni Jarrar, was less worked up about the events in Damascus.
He sat at the bar on Sunday night, sipping a fizzy drink, in a room filled with photographs of diplomats and dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other countries.He sat at the bar on Sunday night, sipping a fizzy drink, in a room filled with photographs of diplomats and dignitaries from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other countries.
Regardless of what happened in Syria on 21 August, Jarrar said he does not believe the US should intervene militarily: "It's not their business." Regardless of what happened in Syria on 21 August, Mr Jarrar said he does not believe the US should intervene militarily: "It's not their business."