Obama asks Congress for authority to hit Syria

There’s nothing worse than being the only person at your war party. The British Parliament’s vote against a limited attack on Syria leaves President Obama poised to proceed alone with plans to strike in retaliation for an assumed chemical-weapons attack last week that killed hundreds. Going through the U.N. isn’t an option either; Russia is certain to use its veto power for any resolution brought to the Security Council. Officials say the president is ready to go it alone, but are stressing that he still hasn’t made a decision yet. There are now five destroyers just waiting in the Mediterranean for orders. And apparently France is still in. Francois Hollande told Le Monde that “all options are on the table.”

Germany, as expected, rules out taking part in military action against Syria.

David Cameron says he will "listen to Parliament" on Syria and "act differently to previous prime ministers" over military action

BREAKING: Obama calls Syria chemical weapons attack challenge to the world

The White House says it has proof the Syrian government used chemical weapons against its own people, and such actions cannot go unchecked.

Obama asks Congress for authority to hit Syria. Read the letter. on.cnn.com/18g2yMG

WASHINGTON — President Obama abruptly changed course on Saturday and postponed a military strike against the Syrian government in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack so he could seek authorization first from a deeply skeptical Congress.

In one of the riskiest gambles of his presidency, Mr. Obama effectively dared lawmakers to either stand by him or, as he put it, allow President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to get away with murdering children with unconventional weapons. By asking them to take a stand, Mr. Obama tried to break out of the isolation of the last week as he confronted taking action without the support of the United Nations, Congress, the public or Britain, a usually reliable partner in such international operations.

“I’m prepared to give that order,” Mr. Obama said in a hurriedly organized appearance in the Rose Garden as American destroyers armed with Tomahawk missiles waited in the Mediterranean Sea. “But having made my decision as commander in chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interests, I’m also mindful that I’m the president of the world’s oldest constitutional democracy.”
read more at new york Times

The American strike could hit President Assad’s military without fundamentally changing the dynamic in a stalemated civil war that has already left more than 100,000 people dead. At the same time, few expect that a barrage of cruise missiles would prompt either side to work in earnest for a political settlement. Given that, the skeptics say it may not be worth the risks.       
“I don’t see any advantage,” said a Western official who closely observes Syria.       

Only the United States has "the capacity and capability" to respond to the Syrian situation. - Boehner

[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]Split Congress Mulls Denial of Military Force Request[/color]