US President Obama says Syria's "chemical weapons use" is threat to the world

The alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria threatens US allies such as Israel and Jordan, but he has not made a final decision,"the moral distinction with chemical attacks is not a false one". "You can kill multiples of thousands of people quickly using chemical weapons, whereas doing it with guns, rockets and knives, it takes longer and you have a chance to react and stop it." But Kay questions how a US military strike could prevent chemical weapons being used again in Syria.

Why Obama Won’t Go to Congress

The answer is that he doesn’t think he needs to go to Congress for the same reason that he didn’t think he needed to do that two years ago. If this White House could concoct an absurd legal theory that eight months of bombing another country didn’t constitute “hostilities,” is it likely to think that a week of cruise missile strikes requires Congressional approval? Obama certainly forgot the Constitution two years ago, and for a lot longer than a moment, and he appears to be ready to forget it again. He does this because he can, and because he assumes that no one will hold him accountable for it. It’s only “dangerous territory” if there are serious consequences, and Obama’s experience from two years ago tells him that there won’t be. In other words, he won’t pay that respect because he assumes he can get away with not paying it, and he has yet to be proven wrong.

source
theamericanconservative 

Francois Hollande: France is ready to act

The French leader stands alone as the only European ruler who remains committed to military intervention, following Thursday night's vote in the House of Commons against British involvement.

"Each country retains the sovereign right to participate or not in an operation," he said.

"That applies to Britain as well as France. I will have today an in-depth exchange with Barack Obama."

UN Team Completes Investigation In Syria

A team of United Nations inspectors has finished collecting samples from the site of the alleged deadly chemical attack, samples collected from the attack on August 21 are to be analysed in designated laboratories.

The team will leave the capital Damascus on Saturday and will then return to The Hague.

A UN spokesman stressed that all available information, including lab analysis of the samples, had to be evaluated "before the mission can draw any conclusions about the incident".

The UN mandate is to determine if an attack took place, not to say who was to blame

US releases intelligence Assad government for chemical weapons attack

Secretary of State Kerry said that the US intelligence concluded the Assad government is responsible for the chemical attack near Damascus on August 21.

Kerry statement: 1,429 people killed including 426 children in recent chemical weapons attack near Damascus.

Facebook reveals governments asked for data

Government agencies around the world demanded access to the information of over 38,000 Facebook users in the first half of this year, and more than half the orders came from the United States.
The company complied in 79% of cases. Facebook said it had to give a range for the US figures in order to give an indication of "all criminal and national security requests to the maximum extent permitted by law".

US ready to decide on military action in Syria

White House officials told reporters Thursday  that the statement from United States’ closest ally, reluctance from the United Nations Security Council, and widespread uncertainty in the US Congress would not be enough to sway Obama from a limited missile strike on Syrian targets.

The US will continue to consult with the UK government despite the British Parliament rejecting a motion authorizing the UK’s involvement in the conflict.

President Obama's decision-making will be guided by what is in the best interests of the United States.  

source  rt.com