SENATE COMMITTEE OKAYS STRIKE ON SYRIA

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the US has approved a resolution authorising President Barack Obama to use force against Syria in the quest to oust the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, who has is alleged to have used chemical weapons on over 1400 Syrians including women and children.

The committee which met today approved the resolution by 10-7 votes. The vote by the panel clears the way for a vote on the resolution in the full Senate in a matter of days.

Bob Menendez, who chairs The Democratic Party committee and the Republican, Bob Corker, drafted the resolution, which reports say was significantly different compared to what was brought to the Senate by the president. The resolution authorises Obama to use limited military mission against Syria, as long as it does not exceed 90 days and involves no US troops on the ground for combat operations.

Obama requested the US Congress to authorise his plan to launch military strikes against Assad in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons in a Damascus suburb on August 21. The resolution came just as US navy ships including submarines have berthed on the Mediterranean Sea, very close to target.  The Russian President Vladimir Putin is reported to have also sent warships to Syria probably as a counter measure to assist Assad in view of the impending strikes. But Putin maintains that his warships are meant to protect Russian citizens in Syria.