U.S. Congressional Leaders To Receive Syria Briefing Thursday

[KittyWampus]

By Patricia Zengerle and Mark Hosenball
WASHINGTON | Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:50pm EDT
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/29/us-syria-crisis-usa-congress-idUSBRE97R18W20130829


(Reuters) - Senior Obama administration officials will brief congressional leaders on Thursday on the situation in Syria, congressional aides said, amid complaints by lawmakers they have not been properly consulted as the president deliberates about possible military action.

The briefing by senior White House and national security officials will be with leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the chairmen and ranking members of national security committees, Democratic and Republican congressional aides said.

President Barack Obama has a legal obligation to consult with Congress before sending U.S. forces into harm's way.

The briefing comes as U.S. lawmakers have increasingly complained they should have more of a say in any decision to punish Syria militarily in response to last week's chemical weapons attack on thousands of civilians.

snip

AUTHORITY TO ACT

Obama has broad legal powers to undertake military action against Syria. Under the 1973 U.S. War Powers Act, the president must notify lawmakers within 48 hours of launching military action. But forces can fight for 60 days before Congress has to approve any action.

snip

[BlueStreak]

1. Yellowcake, mobile WMD launchers, plans to invade America etc.

Is Colin Powell coming back to handle this briefing?

[KittyWampus]

2. The content of your post makes you sound not very well informed- just very cynical

and very rigid.

[David__77]

4. Cynicism isn't warranted?

Why would that be? We were told that Libya would be "days, not weeks or months." That was not true. Why should we believe the generalities that have been: "we just know." They need to worry about briefing the American people who adamantly oppose another war of aggression, not a few congressmembers.

[W_HAMILTON]

3. Sigh.

Even though all the talk made it seem inevitable that we would strike, I figured there was a slight chance that we not.

This article makes it sound like the steps are in place to launch an attack either Thursday or Friday, like everyone had been suggesting was the case all week.

Sigh.