US Aid to Syrian Opposition Tops $1 Billion Mark

US Aid to Syrian Opposition Tops $1 Billion Mark

Breitbart - According to USAID (United States Agency For International Development), the federal agency in charge of distributing the vast majority of foreign aid monies to other countries, United States taxpayers have paid for over one billion dollars in foreign aid packages to help support the “Syrian Humanitarian Response."   Read More

Related:

Pelosi Pledges Support For Use of Force In Syria

4 Petitions on White House Website Oppose U.S. Action in Syria

Grim milestone as U.N. says Syria refugees top 2 million mark

Earlier Coverage:

McCain, Graham encouraged on Syria after meeting with Obama

The Hill - Republican Sens. McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) emerged from their Labor Day meeting with President Obama encouraged the administration appeared to be developing a plan for Syria that would degrade the military capabilities of the Assad regime while improving the capabilities of rebel forces.

"For the first time, I understand what happens after the smoke clears," Graham said, adding that Obama presented them with a "pretty solid plan to upgrade the opposition."

The Republican foreign policy hawks also hinted that the president could be seeking a more ambitious military plan than the two- or three- day limited bombing campaign reportedly under consideration. McCain said he did not think "it was an accident" that an American aircraft carrier group had been rerouted to the Red Sea.   Read More

Syria crisis: Obama 'has the right' to strike regardless of vote, says Kerry
 
Secretary of state says the US has evidence that sarin gas was used in chemical attacks, as the Obama administration seeks to persuade congressional sceptics of military action

The Guardian - The US has evidence that sarin nerve gas was used in chemical attacks outside Damascus last month and could go ahead with military strikes against Bashar al-Assad's regime even without the backing of Congress, the US secretary of state, John Kerry, has said.

A day after Barack Obama vowed to put any intervention in Syria to a vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives, Kerry said the administration was confident of winning a motion of the kind that David Cameron unexpectedly lost last week. "We don't contemplate that the Congress is going to vote no," Kerry said, but he stressed the president had the right to take action "no matter what Congress does."

In a round of appearances on the Sunday political shows in the US, Kerry said the evidence of sarin came from samples from first responders who had helped victims of the attacks. "[We have] blood and hair samples that have come to us through a secure chain of custody from east Damascus – it has tested positive for signatures of sarin. So each day that goes by this case is even stronger," he said.   Read More  PTG

White House open to changing draft language on Syria

Pro-Syria hackers put anti-attack message on US Marines site

Obama authorization for Syria too broad for some lawmakers

Russia sends intelligence ship to Syria coast: report

Hezbollah 'Will Fire at Israel from Syria'