Considering Action Against Syria

09:42

September 04, 2013

Secretary of State John Kerry, right, accompanied by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013, before the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing to advance President Barack Obama's request for congressional authorization for military intervention in Syria, a response to last month's alleged sarin gas attack in the Syrian civil war. (AP)

At this moment, members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee are debating a draft resolution authorizing U.S. military intervention in Syria.

On the House side, for most of the afternoon, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry have been pressing the case for an armed strike against the Assad regime. Here's Kerry, a few hours ago:

However, General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, also testified today that military action would not rid Syria of all chemical weapons. "This is not about eliminating chemical weapons," Dempsey said, "that's impossible."

Meanwhile, President Obama was in Stockholm, Sweden, today. He used the most pointed language so far in his campaign for military action against Syria.

Guests

Niki Tsongas, congresswoman from Massachusetts' 3rd District.

This segment aired on September 4, 2013.