World & Nation

Debate over strikes on Syria

A protester holds up her hand, covered in red paint symbolizing blood, as Secretary of State John F. Kerry testifies Wednesday during a House hearing on proposed military strikes against Syria.

A protester holds up her hand, covered in red paint symbolizing blood, as Secretary of State John F. Kerry testifies Wednesday during a House hearing on proposed military strikes against Syria.  (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

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President Obama has called for punitive military strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad for allegedly carrying out a chemical weapons attack in Damascus, but Congress has yet to coalesce around his call-to-arms.
Read more: Senate panel backs U.S. strike Photos: Conflict in Syria Photos: Syria before the war

Obama's announcement

In the White House Rose Garden on Aug. 31, President Obama announced he would seek the approval of Congress to launch a military strike against the Syrian government.  (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

Dempsey, Kerry and Hagel

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, left, Secretary of State F. John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel testify Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

'All the evidence I need'

Anti-war demonstrators protest against a possible U.S. attack on Syria in front of the White House on Monday.  (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)

Anti-intervention protests

Demonstrators opposed to the U.S. attacking Syria rally in front of the White House on Tuesday.  (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images)

Capitol Hill whispers

Secretary of State John F. Kerry confers with U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on the Syria situation on Wednesday.  (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

Red-handed protests

Code Pink protesters hold up their red-painted hands, symbolizing blood, behind Secretary of State John F. Kerry as he testifies on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.  (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

Chuck Hagel's notes

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel consults extensively revised notes as he testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Tuesday at the Capitol on the authorization of use of force in Syria.  (Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA)

Code Pink and Hagel

Code Pink protesters Ellen Taylor, left, and Medea Benjamin disrupt an appearance by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.  (Jim Watson/ AFP/Getty Images)

Skeptical senator

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who opposes attacking Syria, listens during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.  (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images)

White House meeting

President Obama meets with members of Congress at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria.  (Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images)

McCain swarmed

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is mobbed by reporters after leaving a closed-door meeting about Syria at the Capitol on Wednesday.  (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

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