(Image source from: US might strike Syria soon})

Another war is in the wind as the war-weary U.S.A finally gets a nod to retaliate against Syria.

Surpassing the first legisltive hurdle, President Obama's plea for speedy congressional support of military strike in Syria received a thumb-up from the key Senate panel, hours after he declared that he would “order retaliation for a deadly chemical weapons attack” even if Congress didn't give its consent.

The resolution was passed by a 10-7 vote, backed by three Republicans, including Senator John McCain, who initially put his foot down against the war.

The decision will hit the Senate floor next week, although the timetable for a vote is uncertain. The support is likely to face opposition from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

“The Senate panel’s vote marked the first formal response in Congress to Mr. Obama’s unexpected announcement last weekend that he was putting off an expected cruise missile strike against Syria and instead was first asking lawmakers to unite behind such a plan,” wrote the Hindu.

Talking about it, the President said, “I always preserve the right and responsibility to act on behalf of America’s national security.” In a challenge to lawmakers back home, he said Congress’ credibility was on the line, not his own, despite saying a year ago that the use of chemical weapons would cross a “red line.”

Asked about that comment, Mr. Obama said that line had already been drawn by a chemical weapons treaty ratified by countries around the world. “That wasn’t something I made up,” he said.

(With inputs from the Hindu)

AW: Suchorita Dutta