Syria resolution will be ‘a very tough sell’ in Congress, lawmakers say
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323932604579049522532943330.html
REUTERS:
Exclusive: USS Nimitz carrier group rerouted for possible help with Syria
By Andrea Shalal-Esa
WASHINGTON - The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other ships in its strike group are heading west toward the Red Sea to help support a limited U.S. strike on Syria, if needed, defense officials said on Sunday.
The Nimitz carrier strike group, which includes four destroyers and a cruiser, has no specific orders to move to the eastern Mediterranean at this point, but is moving west in the Arabian Sea so it can do so if asked. It was not immediately clear when the ships would enter the Red Sea, but they had not arrived by Sunday evening, said one official.
“It’s about leveraging the assets to have them in place should the capabilities of the carrier strike group and the presence be needed,” said the official.
President Barack Obama on Saturday delayed imminent cruise missile strikes by five destroyers off the coast of Syria, and sought approval from Congress, a move that effectively put any strike on hold for at least nine days.
by Derek Caney 6:21 PM
Syria vote complicates U.S. fiscal debate; stop-gap more likely
By David Lawder
WASHINGTON - A vote in Congress over whether to launch U.S. attacks against Syria is expected to wreak collateral damage - leaving too little time on Capitol Hill to deal with fast-approaching fall deadlines to fund government agencies and raise the debt limit.
That increases the likelihood that U.S. lawmakers will agree to a short-term government funding measure to get them through the fall, postponing for another day any broader deal or big showdowns.
The House of Representatives had previously scheduled only nine legislative days in September after they return from summer recess on September 9, prompting analysts to view this as barely enough to pass government funding legislation in time to avoid a federal shutdown as the new fiscal year starts October 1.
But now much of that time is likely to be eaten up with a contentious debate over authorizing the use of military force to punish Syria, analysts say.
by Derek Caney 6:20 PM
RT:
RT @RT_com 23m
DETAILS: USS Nimitz group includes 4 destroyers and a cruiser, could join 5 US destroyers on standby to strike Syria http://on.rt.com/g4nb6i
RT @RT_com 42m
MORE: USS Nimitz aircraft carrier group rerouted from Indian ocean towards the Red Sea and possibly the Mediterranean http://on.rt.com/g4nb6i
RT @RT_com 57m
BREAKING: USS Nimitz aircraft carrier group rerouted to help US strike on #Syria, if needed - report via @Reuters http://on.rt.com/g4nb6i
RT @RT_com 1h
Kerry: ‘US tests show sarin used in Syria chemical attack’ http://on.rt.com/h3h6qm
RT @RT_com 2h
France, following US and UK, applies brakes on Syrian war rhetoric http://on.rt.com/mmrkf1 #Syria
U.S. military officers have deep doubts about impact, wisdom of a U.S. strike on Syria