Enemy within: FBI to keep closer eye on Syrians in US ahead of strike:
The FBI is upping its surveillance of Syrians within US borders, for a fear of reprisal attacks that may follow an imminent American strike against Bashar Assad, reports in US media say. Homeland Security is also worried about retaliatory cyber-attacks. Ref. Source 5
Blood and hair samples from eastern Damascus, Syria, have "Tested positive for signatures of sarin" Gas, Secretary of State John Kerry told CNN today.
"Each day that goes by, this case is even stronger," Kerry said on CNN's "State of the Union."
Kerry said the U.S. Obtained the samples "Independently" Through an "Appropriate chain of custody," Giving no indication the results came from the United Nations chemical weapons inspectors. Ref. CNN
GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona said Monday after meeting with President
Barack Obama that congressional rejection of a resolution authorizing U.S. Military force in Syria would be "Catastrophic," Adding it would "Undermine the credibility of the United States and the president of the United States."
Congress will not vote on Obama's request to authorize the use of force until after it officially returns from recess September 9. Ref. CNN
House Speaker John Boehner said he supports President Obama's call for military action in Syria. "This is something that the United States as a country needs to do," He told reporters today.
President Obama has been meeting with key members of Congress to press his case for a military strike on Syria. Ref. CNN
Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will testify in a public hearing on President Obama's call for military action in Syria. Ref. USAToday
Obama's 'Source' on Syrian Chemical Weapons is Israel's NSA:
A shadowy Israeli military unit is apparently the source of the "Intelligence" That the Obama administration is using as justification for its planned attack on Syria. Ref. Source 8
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 10-7 to approve a resolution authorizing the use of military force in Syria. President Obama has asked Congress to approve the use of force in Syria in response to the apparent use of chemical weapons by the regime of President Bashar Assad. The language approved by the committee establishes a 60-day time limit for the use of force and prohibits the use of U.S. Troops on the ground in Syria. The committee also added language at the behest of Sen. John McCain emphasizing that the goal of military action would be to shift the momentum in Syria's ongoing civil war against the Assad regime. The full Senate will still have to vote on the resolution. Ref. USAToday