Second Decisi Decision News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

For us at the white house while dana bash is in our washington bureau. and, jim, the timing of this decision simply fascinating and based on what you're hearing, really last minute. >> very much so, john. this was a very dramatic development that took place here at the white house yesterday after his administration was essentially moving in the direction of eminent military action, perhaps as soon as this weekend. the president made a different decision. at 7:00 last night he really made a last-minute decision to slow down, buy himself some time, and seek authorization from congress. according...

Reporters and they just really didn't want to answer that question. they say at this point they don't feel like they're changing the calculus when it comes to who has the constitutional authority to take military action. they say in this instance, they want to get the congress, the peoples representatives, more invested in this decision. they point out in 1997 the congress ratified the chemical weapons convention that was signed on to by many different nations around the world. they say this is not only the president's red line, it is congress' red line. >> let's find out what our own congress...

Duration and scope. that's why i've made a second decisi decision. i will seek authorization for the use of force from the american people's representatives in congress. over the last several days we've heard from members of congress who want their voices to be heard. i absolutely agree. i ask you to take this vote for a national security. i am looking forward to the debate. in doing so i ask you, members of congress, to consider that some things are more important than i'm partisan differences at the moment. it is not about who occupies this office at any given time, it's about who we are as ...

Is on the line. by that, he certainly implied credibility in the arab world. how does this decision by the president today, do you think it affects u.s. credibility? >> well, i think around the whole world and really for the whole world order weapons of mass destruction of which chemical weapons are one type are banned by the highest standards of international law. this is a major issue. this is t not just a massacre, as terrible as they are. this is a crime committed with a weapon of mass destruction. according to kerry the u.s. officials called the members of the leadership of the syrian opp...

>> after careful deliberation, i have decided the united states should take military action against syrian regime targets. this would not be an open-ended intervention. we would not put boots on the ground. instead our action would be designed to be limited in duration and scope. that's why i made a second decision. i will seek authorization for the use of force from the american people's representatives in congress. for the last several days, we've heard from members of congress who want their voices to be heard. i absolutely agree. i ask you to take this vote for our national security. i am ...