The First Low Hurdle for Military Action in Syria Is Cleared

A day after hearing testimony in support of military action in Syria, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved its draft resolution of authorization in a split partisan vote on Wednesday. For an administration that's shown complete confidence that a resolution will pass Congress, it was likely both a relief and somewhat alarming.

Within hours of the conclusion of testimony from the secretaries of Defense and State on Tuesday, the committee released a document approving the use of military resources by the president that largely maintained President Obama's original suggestions. The latest vote from the committee moved a version of Senate's document to the full body for a vote.

As has increasingly been the case on national security issues, the vote did not break down along party lines. Two Democrats -- Tom Udall of New Mexico and Connecticut's Chris Murphy -- voted against the measure. Three Republicans voted for it, including John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona, and minority chair Bob Corker of Tennessee, who helped draft the document. 

Read more on The Atlantic Wire.