"If we fail to act, the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons. As the ban against these weapons arose, other terrorists will have no reason to think twice about acquiring poisonous gas and using them. Over time, our troops were again face the prospect of the chemical warfare on the battle field. And it could be easier for terrorist organizations to obtain these weapons and to use them to attack civilians."

 

The President talked about the idea of a strike against Syria, and he also discussed a diplomatic proposal from Russia.

 

"I determined that it is in the national security interests of the United States to respond to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons through a targeted military strike."

 

"But this initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force, particularly because Russia is one of Assad’s strongest allies. I have therefore asked the leaders of the Congress to postpone a vote to authorize the use of force while we pursue this diplomatic path."

 

And the next step is for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. That starts today in Geneva, Switzerland. So President Obama made his case on Tuesday. Some members of Congress said they weren’t convinced.

 

"What I’m arguing is it that what the President has planned is not going to accomplish what he says he is going to accomplish, which is to punish Assad for this. I think Assad personally will not be held accountable for this. I also think that even if the diplomatic solution occurs, that he still may not be accountable."

 

Next story today takes us to Libya. One city in the North African nation has been the site of multiple attacks against diplomatic missions and officials. Yesterday a car bomb exploded outside of a foreign ministry building in Benghazi. Large parts of the building’s outer walls were blown away. But there were no casualties and only one minor injury was reported.

 

This happened on the 12th anniversary of the 9•11 terrorist attacks in the U.S.. And one year to the day after a terrorist attack against the U.S. facility in Benghazi, Libya.

 

In 2012, a U.S. consulate building there was targeted. This video was shot inside the consulate afterward. Four Americans were killed in that assault, including U.S. ambassador Christopher Stevens, some lawmakers criticized President Obama and his administration for their response to that attack and for not providing enough security before it happened.

 

Yesterday we marked the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack in the United States. And the Americans paused to honor the victims of that day.

 

In New York City, there were moments of silence. Family members read the names of people who lost their lives in September 11th, 2001.

 

People gathered at the Pentagon to remember lost loved ones. President Obama was there, saying, "Our hearts still ache for the futures snatched away."

 

And the ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, is bells tolled for each passenger and crew member on board the plane that crashed there 12 years ago.

 

In New York, a new building, one World Trade Center, has been gradually climbing back up into the sky. Here`s a look at its progress.