Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves 'Limited' Strikes On Syria

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution allowing President Obama the authority to launch “limited” strikes at Syria. The resolution, approved on Wednesday night, passed by a measure of 10-7. The resolution will head to the Senate floor next week for debate and a vote.

The resolution authorizes “the limited and tailored use of the United States Armed Forces against Syria. Whereas Syria is in material breach of the laws of war by having employed chemical weapons against its civilian population."

“We commend the Senate for moving swiftly and working across party lines on behalf of our national security,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

“The military action authorized in the resolution would uphold America’s national security interests by degrading Assad’s chemical weapons capability and deterring further use of these weapons, even as we pursue a broader strategy of strengthening the opposition to hasten a political transition in Syria.”

According to the Huffington Post, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Angus King (I-Maine) supported the resolution.

Meanwhile, Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted against. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) voted present on the resolution.