President Barack Obama pauses after speaking to members of the media during his meeting with Baltic leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. (Photo: Charles Dharapak, AP) Story Highlights President Obama made a statement on Saturday to update the country on his Syria deliberations 
 
 Members of his national security team briefed lawmakers on Saturday 
 
 Obama overrode top advisers' objections 
 
 WASHINGTON — President Obama said on Saturday that he was ready to take military action against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime in retaliation for its alleged use of chemical weapons, but that he will seek the approval of Congress before carrying out any military strike.  President Barack Obama says he has decided that the United States should take military action against Syria in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack. Speking about Syria,... (Associated Press) 
 
 But he says he will seek congressional authorization for the use of force. Obama says he has the authority to act on his own, but believes it is important for the country to have a debate.
– Hold your fire, troops: President Obama made his strongest case yet for a military strike on Syria today—but he also said he would seek the authority of Congress before launching it, reports AP. Obama made clear in his afternoon press conference that he believes the US must act to punish Bashar al-Assad, but "we should have this debate," he said. Congress will take up the matter when it returns the week of Sept. 9. When Obama wrapped up, a reporter asked the big question: If Congress rejects the idea, would he still order a strike? The president didn't respond. In the press conference, Obama made his case for action, asserting that Assad clearly gassed his own people. "This attack is an assault on human dignity," he said, as quoted by USA Today. "It also presents a serious danger to our national security." He said the US "cannot turn a blind eye" to what he termed the "worst chemical weapons attack in the 21st century." Earlier today, Vladimir Putin called the US allegations against Assad "utter nonsense."