"How much say will Congress have on Syrian chemical weapons response?"-by Alix Kast

It's likely that you have heard about the ongoing conflict in Syria, and the recent developments which seem to show that chemical weapons were used on the people of Syria. The current debate is whether or not the United Sates should involve itself in the strife. Another important question is who will decide if we take action.
 The president is supposedly supposed to receive permission from Congress before any sort of military force is used.  But there have been exceptions in the past. The president is really only required to consult Congress. U.S. allies have suggested that waiting until the UN finishes its investigation will be the best thing to do for now. If we rush into things, then there is a chance that this be another event like the situation with Iraq. Many people want Congress to have greater influence on the matter.

Analysis: The turmoil in Syria has the potential to become a major conflict that affects the world. Before taking any sort of action, we need to determine if the U.S. getting involved will cause more help or harm. Perhaps Congress having a say could help make any decisions more reasonable, as two heads are better than one. Listening to our allies' opinions is also a good idea, as they can make judgments outside of what we are typically influenced by. Discussion can help people to see both sides of any argument, and in situations such as this, it is best that we try to view the topic in its entirety. Perhaps Congress could remind the public of important questions and issues that need to be addressed, and problems that should be avoided if we do intervene.



Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/politics/obama-congress-syria/index.html?hpt=po_c1