0's >> hello, i'm stephanie sy. these are some of the stories we're following at this hour. the president's national security team briefed members congress on the crisis in syria, but the decision of if or when to use military force is still up in the air. president obama is also considering going it alone in syria, this after america's closest ally britain cast a surprising vote against military action in response to the chemical weapons attack. meanwhile bold reaction from syria's leader, bashar al-assad said its country is ready to defend itself from any military attack.

[♪ music ] >> the united states may have to go it alone in syria. the white house is still trying to assemble a coalition after an alleged chemical weapons attack by government forces. but last night the british parliament refused to authorize any military intervention. the lawmakers were told the administration has proof that president assad's government used chemical weapons. they were also told that the president still has not decided how to provide in syria. defense secretary chuck hagel said that the u.s. still

considers the u.k. an ally. >> thvery strong in condemning e syrian regimes use of chemical weapons, and that vote in the parliament does not change that. >> hagel also said every nation has the right to act in its own best interest. we have a look at what's at stake for the u.s. in syria. >> reporter: president obama said the goal of the attack on syria would not be regime change or even changing the course of the country's civil war. instead it would an war in syria to try to keep those weapons out of the hands of terrorists. >> we know that the assad regime maintains stock piles of chemical weapons in syria, and we have indicated from this podium and other places over the course of the last two years that the assad regime would be held accountable for the security of those chemical

weapons. >> reporter: but experts say it's a stretch for the president to say attacking syria is some how about keeping america safe. the. >> the only way the president can legally strike syria is if it leads to american defense, i think he's making a tenuous crazy. >> reporter: neve tenuous--tenuous case. >> reporter: the u.s. and the rest of the world took little action. even the state department admits there is no blueprint. >> president for u.s. administration to use the use of chemical weapons as justification to take some kind of retaliatory or punitive action? >> no, not to that specific question. >> so there is no precedence. >> not that i'm aware of, no. >> reporter: the closest compare ton may be. operation desert fox in 1998

when the u.s. led a four-day bombing campaign against iraq's elusive weapons of mass destruction. and in 1983 in response to a plan to assassinate former president george h.w bush. in an interview aspen said what we're doing is sending a message against the people who are responsible for planning this operation. if anybody asks the same people to do it again they will remember this message. and experts say this isn't about sending the message to syria at all but to another american enemy next door. >> it's really about the president's credibility when dealing with other countries specifically iran. he has told iran that up a options are on the table including military options to prevent them from gaining nuclear weapon. if he let's it go in syria his deterrent threat in iran is

weakened. >> british lawmakers have dealt a major blow to the boom administration by voting against military intervention in syria. simon mcgregor wood has that from london. >> order! >> reporter: bearing bad news. >> the ayes to the right, 272, the nos to the left, 285. >> reporter: his motion asking for support for military action in syria defeated by 13 votes. not a big number but it was a very significant political loss. as the dust settled there was admission of defeat by the prime minister itself meaning there is no participation in an any military strikes on syria. >> it is clear tonight while the house has not passed a motion it is clear to me that the british parliament reflecting the views of the british people does not

want to see british military action. i get that, and the government will academy accordingly. >> reporter: this defeat for david cameron is a significant personal political humiliation. he has miscalculated not only the mood amongst applications here at westminster but of the british public in damage. he's damaged, and it will take a long time for him to recover. in damascus president assad said his country will defend itself against any aggression. u.n. weapons inspectors will stay until saturday looking for any chemical weapons use. many are shocked and panned in an explosion in the city. it scenes like this are a regular occurrence in syria. so now the focus is on the united states and if president

obama will act without his closest ally and friend. hhe said that countries who violate international norms by use of chemical weapons should be held accountable. >> russia and china are opposed to any military strikes against syria, especially without what they call concrete proof. the assad recream used chemical weapons in the attacks. russia sent two warships to the mediterranean. craig, what is the latest on russia and china's reaction to possible military strikes? >> we are having trouble getting our live shot out of hong kong. we'll return to craig if we can get that back. the syrian government is preparing for a possible

military strike. president assad said his country, quote, will defend itself against any aggression. assad's senior military commanders are reportedly staying away from buildings that are likely targeted in a strike. with more on the potential consequences of the military strike we're going out to thomas refer, a middle east expert at the university of san diego and associate fellow at the transnational institute. thank you for joining us. your specialty is studying large scale, long-term social change in world systems analysis which is appropriate for what we're talking about here. let's talk about the diplomatic situation. the u.k. parliament has voted down any military involvement. where does that put the u.s.? >> well, i think it may lead to complacency in the u.s. but it has created a more dangerous situation. the u.s. was willing to wait until they got the british on board.

but now that the british are not coming on board, and it does not look like that's going to change there is a real threat that people will get complacent, and the u.s. may make it's military move any time. it could happen any time. because there is congressional opposition mounting to going ahead with military action without consultation of congress and without moving something through congress, president obama is in a situation here if he wants to move with potentia l potentially incalculatible consequences. >> what could be the consequence of unilateral strikes against syria. >> that's the question, the security adviser said in the financial times the other day the worst cates scenario was similar to what was considered violence in the balkans in world war 1. this is an international

conflict with great powers on both sides. russia, the united states, iran is involved supporting syria. if the united states makes a military strike, and the iranians said they would attack israel. they could shut down th the streets, and one of the reasons why it was voted down in partly is because people realized the leaders can say whatever they want, but they don't know what the syrians are going to do. they don't know what the iranians are going to do. >> you brought up world war ii and the balkans, i don't want to glean past that. are you suggesting that it could go bond a regional conflict but could draw in other world powers, ie china and russia? >> absolutely. russia is a huge allied of the assad regime. they're allied with iran. this has potential for global

confrontation. one of the significance strategic thinkers and he had the same analysis that i put out a few days ago. no one thought anything when the war was erupts in the balkans in world war i. that is a significant risk. and the weapons capability of assad, we don't know how dispersed it is. when people think they're going to be controlled through military action we have to pause because we could do something that is even worse. what is needed is a major diplomadiplomatic effort. i heard someone say-- >> i hate to cut you off. middle east expert and associate fellow. thank you so much for joining us this morning. you can stay up-to-date on our

website at any time of day at www.aljazeera.com. a suicide-bombing in afghanistan has killed a district governor and four ove r people. that governor was coming out of a mosque during a funeral procession. his two bodyguards and two civilians were killed in an explosion. there was no claim in the responsibility. afghan forces have led forces in the area for more than a year. still to come, the obama administration is loosening federal drug laws making it easier for states who have approved recreational marijuana use. plus a supersized fast food strike. why workers across the country walked off the job. >> meteorologist: we have more heat in the northwest and we have thunderstorms. we'll tell you where those are coming up next.

but should you be made aware if you are consuming them. that's next on "consider this." [♪ music ] >> the justice department says it will not sue colorado or

washington for legalizing recreational marijuana use. instead the government outlined its priorities for enforcing the marijuana laws including keeping pot out of the hands of minors and keeping the drug cartels out. this leaves many entrepreneurs trying to figure out how to make money off this newly legal industry. al jazeera has more from seattle. >> reporter: in a basement room in a non-description south seattle warehouse gives us a small whiff of big weed. >> if you smell it, you're going to get blue berry cheesecake. >> reporter: this is a 500-square-foot growing room, but his company is permitted for 20 times that, and is ready to roll out even more production space. the cannabis cultivation business is good right now. >> we help provide over 10,000 patients with the medication that they need. >> reporter: but with the state

licensing recreational pot in this industry, the future looks brighter. >> we have six part time and six full time employees. >> reporter: where do you see it going? >> massive expansion. >> reporter: they're still calculating how many growers, processers and retailers will be licensed. but before the legalization vote the state estimated 360,000 adult customers a year would need pot. a former microsoft strategy manager wants to reach some of those customers preferably the older richer ones. >> baby boomers are our target. we don't want anyone in their 20s. >> reporter: they're still figuring out packaging details but they have a brand name, possible product lines, growers lined up and a very smart stoners' business i plan. >> it's evolved under the influence of extremely good

stevia, and then other varieties, a family of cannabis. >> reporter: so you were high when you had this vision. >> that's correct. >> reporter: and before a single store is open, that vision includes expansion. >> we're thinking international. >> reporter: but the players in this industry have a warning about get rich quick dreams. >> can a person get in on the ground floor of legalized marijuana. >> the ground floor happened years ago. that's the truth of it. >> reporter: al jazeera, seattle, washington. >> another milestone for marijuana equality. the irs will accept joint tax returns from legally married same-sex couples. it doesn't matter whether the state they live in recognizes their marriage. it's the broadest federal action since the supreme court decision in june to strike down the 1996 defense of marijuana act. fast food workers demanding higher pay took part in a nationwide strike. the protest started in new york on thursday and spread to 60

cities across the country. workers say they want to learn $15 an hour, nearly double the counter minimum wage. they're also demanding the right to unionize without reit willation without other employers. >> meteorologist: i'm meteorologist rebecca stevenson. we're tracking storms riding up through the west, right over high pressure in place, bringing in storms into the midwest and also more heat. the problem is that we've got the moisture riding up to the north through north dakota, over into wisconsin, and that's where we're looking for not only some potential severe thunderstorms this afternoon, but also we're looking for that heat advisory and excessive heat warnings to continue because the combination of humidity, high temperatures in the 90s very uncomfortable to be outside. not only that, it's down right dangerous. you can look at the high temperatures that we're

expecting back to the mid to upper 90s. it will feel like 100 to 105 degrees in the central midwest stretching down to oklahoma. it will be a hot day here but slightly cooler in other areas. what will bring cooling air is some of those thunderstorms rolling through just like we had yesterday. now as we look at our storm track you can see how it's bringing up that moisture. it's a tropical storm, it's falling apart, but that moisture is riding up to the west keeping showers and thunderstorms going and also that potential of thunderstorms. iowa has been so dry under that high pressure we're concerning about drought again. it's slowly creeping back in. high pressure coming in, cooler in the west. moving off to the north-northwest, even as it falls apart all that moisture will keep those storms going.

and you can see in the overnight hours how they're moving up even into nevada. these are the areas we're most concerned about, southern california, nevada, new mexico, and arizona for flash flooding. keep it right here and we'll bring you up-to-date for recent weather. >> chances are this week you've seen clips of martin luther king jr.'s i have a "dream" speech. but odds are you haven't seen the whole thing but that's because the most iconic speech is also the most protected. >> i have a dream that one day this nation will rise up... >> reporter: it is one of the most famous speeches in u.s.

history. >> we hold these truths to be self-evident. >> reporter: a defining moment in the struggle of civil rights but if you have want to watch martin luther king's "i have a dream" speech, good luck, it's not on any youtube or news site. the reason, dr. king's speech is covered by copyrights laws. >> there is nothing in united states copyright laws that says if a work happens to become very successful or extremely significant that it some how loses it's copyright protection as a result. >> reporter: it was just after a month after the 1963 march that dr. king would copy write his speech, and through the years

the king family has taken action against news organizations like usa today or cbs news who used any part of the speech without paying licensing fees. all of the cases settled out ouf court. >> dr. king's family said, look, we own it. he didn't make a lot of money when he was alive. the only thing he had, really, were his properties, his literary in effect properties. so get a license. pay us for it. >> reporter: critics say the family has gone too far noting that dr. king's relatives have received millions of dollars licensing out the speech to companies who wanted to leverage it for commercial advertising. singulacingular wireless useddet of it "free at last ." >> the you ironry of using it for income is a sad

contradiction of how dr. king led his own life and what he would want his legacy to be. >> dr. king registered his copyright in part so that his heirs would have security from the use of his copyrights, and the heirs and licensing access of his work are acting like any other copy write owner would. >> they do make the speech available to schools at a discount. so is king's family being greedy or protective of his work? either way all of this may continue for a while. thanks to u.s. law king's copyright is valid for 70 years after his death. that means until the year 2038 during one of the most remarkable speeches in history will come with a price tag. david schuster, al jazeera. >> an interesting debate. coming up, a school where students don't read books.

instead they use ipads almost exclusively. why some critics say the school is setting the kids up for failure. my name is jonathan betz. i'm from dallas, texas

[♪ music ] >> in a monumental agreement the national football league has reached a settlement dealing with football related brain injuries. the settlement sets aside $765 million for nearly 4500 retired nfl players. the players claimed in a lawsuit

that the league intentionally withheld information relating to concussions. the nfl denies any wrongdoing and insists that safety has always been a top priority. here's a break down of how the money will be dispersed. $675 million will be available for retired players who show symptoms of cognitive impairment. and $10 million will go to a separate research and education fund. the makers of tylenol say they will place a new warning on bottles of the popular painkiller. johnson and johnson said the new red label will tell users that taking too much extra strength tylenol can kill you. aat least minute ten can cause liver failure.

it has killed over 500 people a year in the u.s. in the netherlands the schools are going ultra high tech. they're using ipads for everything. the dutch government is plan to go open more of these schools very soon. >> bookses, bags that is so last term. a new approach in the netherlands. 2013 is all about the ipad. >> we have to prepare the children for a fast-changing world. >> maurice is proud of his chi child. the books relegated to the

closet. pulpupils starting age four receive ipads. >> i saw my daughter when she was one years old she started using the ipad. she's four years old. the school doesn't use ipads she's going from the future to the past. >> is she a teacher? no, a coach. the ipad is the teacher and it is with them at school. even by dutch standards this is a very informal and relaxed approach, and obviously the children love it. the critics not so much. they'll tell you school is not just about lessons but its discipline, routine, respect, building relations and social schools. when it comes to those things and these things, there isn't an app for that. >> i've seen too many experiments of pupils getting

for a little education, no teachers whatsoever, so we have to be careful. >> this school is just a few minutes walk but a world away for now. there is only one ipad here and its used to compliment rather than replace traditional lessons. >> it's more practical. they need to learn in the real world rather than the virtual world. >> reporter: back at the school you'll find few critics, from the students or the parents. >> it's all fun and games. they're learning stuff. >> reporter: they are not affiliated with apple but no doubt they'll be watching closely, the dutch government certainly is. >> that will do it for this addition of al jazeera news. i'm stephanie sy. thanks so much for watching. remember news at the top of every hour, and remember you can log on to www.aljazeera.com.

we'll leave you with a live picture from our nation's capitol.