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House Minority Leader Pelosi Strongly Endorses Military Strike On Syria

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke to reporters in San Francisco on Wednesday to strongly endorse a military strike on Syria.

Pelosi clarified what type of strike she supports and wants to send a message about the use of weapons of mass destruction.

This comes after President Obama said he has conclusive proof that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his regime used chemical weapons in an August, 21st attack that killed over 1,400 men, women and children in Syria.

The president wants Congress to authorize a military response and Minority leader Pelosi agrees.

"To deter him from doing it again, to send him a clear message to anybody else out there that has chemical weapons that that is outside the circle of civilized human behavior," she said.

Pelosi said this is about sending a message, not starting a war and there would be no boots on the ground.

"It would be limited, targeted, tailored for the purpose that we're talking about and it would be short duration," she added.

While members of congress roundly condemn the use of chemical weapons some say they want more evidence that Assad was behind the attack and others worry that even a limited strike will put the U.S. in the middle of the Syrian conflict.

A Senate panel voted 10-7 on Wednesday to give President Obama the authority to use military force against Syria in response to the chemical attack.

The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure next week.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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