The United States must make Syria's leader believe that any punitive strikes are part of a larger strategy to compel him to stop killing his own people, writes CFR's Robert Danin.

"U.S. diplomats should include discussions of human rights in all of their encounters with Iranian officials," writes Ray Takeyh.

President Obama spoke at a Press Conference during the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg on September 6, 2013. He discussed the state of the global economy and international response to Syria.

The United States should cripple the Syrian government's ability to kill masses of its own people and openly intensify its support to opposition forces, says expert Frederic C. Hof.

On September 4, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations debated the resolution: "Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against the Government of Syria to Respond to Use of Chemical Weapons."

Gayle Tzemach-Lemmon discusses Salim Idris' potential trip to Washington.

"Don't say they didn't warn us," writes Gayle Tzemach-Lemmon on the continuing crisis in Syria.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Secretary of State John Kerry, and General Martin Dempsey testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on September 3, 2013, regarding options for U.S. military operations in Syria.

A reported devastating chemical weapons attack stirs new debate in Washington and global capitals about intervention in Syria. This Issue Guide provides background and analysis.

Richard N. Haass outlines a U.S. policy toward Syria that balances a need to act meaningfully with a need to show restraint.

The French Government released its declassified assessment of the August 21 chemical weapons attack in Syria.

Elliott Abrams says the United States must "punish and deter Assad or the damage to American credibility will be enormous."

"Even after 100,000 deaths in Syria, the chemical weapons attack evoked a visceral response."

Laurie Garrett says before American cruise missiles reach their targets, serveral diplomatic steps must be taken in order to stop the further use of nerve gases by the Syrian regime against its own people and prevent the use of chemical weapons from becoming the region's "new normal."

President Barack Obama gave this statement on August 31, 2013, to explain his decision to pursue military intervention in response to the August 21 chemical weapons attack in Damascus.

"The Obama administration and its allies should understand that even limited intervention would hasten Syria's demise," argues Steven A. Cook.

Richard N. Haass says the British Parliament's rejection of a motion endorsing UK participation in expected military action against Syria is nothing less than stunning.

The U.S. government released this assessment on August 30, 2013, to provide declassified details about the August 21 chemical weapons attack in Damascus.

Secretary of State John Kerry gave this statement on August 30, 2013, to review with the American people the Obama administration's assessment about the August 21 chemical weapons attack on Syrian civilizans and the steps taken to develop a plan with U.S. and international officials to intervene.

Any external military intervention in Syria in response to government use of chemical weapons will require persuasive arguments to prove legitimacy, says CFR's Matthew Waxman.