WASHINGTON » Two Republican foreign policy hawks say President Barack Obama must make a strong case for attacking Bashar Assad’s Syria if he wants to win congressional backing for the operation.

Sen. John McCain tells reporters at the White House that Obama’s intervention now will be more difficult because Assad "is moving his forces around." Both McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham questioned the wisdom of the administration publicly signaling in advance its intention to strike.

The GOP senators, who often speak with the same voice on foreign affairs, talked in the White House driveway today after a private meeting with Obama.

McCain said he believes lawmakers awaiting a critical vote on Syria "must be assured that this is different from the past two years of neglect" on the part of the administration.