美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-09-09（在线收听）

 It's Wednesday I'm Carl Azuz, welcome to the CNN student news. US government is considering taking action against Syria because of the suspected use of chemical weapons in that country's civil war. Syrian officials deny using chemical weapons, but president Obama says there is no doubt the Syria government is responsible. He wants to launch a military strike against Syria and he has the power to order that, but last week he decided to ask congress for approval. Congress isn't in session until September 9th. Before then the president is meeting with congressional leaders and making his case for an attack. Today we are focusing on some of the key players in the debate over possible US military action. When it comes to Syria in the  US the focus is now on congress,  especially leaders in the US senate and house representatives who can influence other members of their parties. Speaker John Boehner leads the US house representatives where his republican party is in majority, the speaker presides over the house and he is in third line  to the presidency. Boehner took over that job from Nancy Pelosi the former speaker is now the house minority leader, the highest ranking democrat in the house representatives.Now the power in the US senate is the reverse with democrats outnumbering  republicans. Senator Harry Reid is the majority leader there responsible for deciding which issue is senate takes up on the day to day basis. Reid had served the  congress since 1983 and he has been a senator since 1987. Senator Mitch McConnell is the senate minority leader and he is highest ranking republican, McConnell has been serving the state of Kentucky in congress since he was first elected in the senate in 1984. The senate is  responsible for confirming members of the president's cabinet, and two members of president Obama's cabinet play a large roll in the discussion of Syria. John Kerry became Secretary of State in February of this year. As the head of the state department Secretary Kerry is the president's chief advisor on foreign policy, he is responsible for carrying out the president's policy which regard other nations. Chuck Hagel head of US defence department which oversees all branched of US military. As defence secretary Hagel advises President Obama on military issues and responsible for carrying out the approved policies. General Martin Dempsey is the primary military advisor to Secretary Hagel and president Obama. General Dempsey is chairman of the joint chief of staff and the senior ranking member of US army forces. Leaders in congress, members of the president's cabinet and military leaders will all have a voice in the debate over whether the US takes action against Syria.