the last decade. their intelligence is what i would pay attention to. they also have history of superintendent p supporting the intelligence community. >> it's not surprising if they were right now helping pick targets in syria if there's a missile strike. >> i expect they're across the border in to syria. >> anybody else in the region? >> you have to talk about iraq with a military over a million folks. we, the united states, helped train the military and involved and distracted in their own sectarian missions and challenges. egypt is displaced on the front page by syria and in the middle of a coup and government transition but a modern, capable military. a country that's not a member of the arab league is turkey. turkey has a modern military, member of nato and in the neighborhood and borders sir why. >> and vested interest in the region. i'm certain we'll talk about it more in the weeks and months to

come. >> thanks so much. we have much more ahead in the newsroom and it all starts right now. it's third hour of the "newsroom" this sunday. hello, everyone. a look at the top stories this hour. in less than 24 hours congress returns to washington to debate but can lawmakers be convinced the syrian regime is to blame for a seuspected sarin gas attack? members of the u.s. armed forces go online to oppose a strike. public dissent within the military? straight ahead. plus, the consequences of a u.s. strike on syria. what will the blowback be in tomahawk missiles were to start flying? u.s. secretary of state kerry is very busy to convince the international community to back u.s. military action against syria.

>> what we are seeking is to enforce the standard with respect to the use of chemical weapons. we are not seeking to become engaged in or party to or take over syria's civil war. >> he met with arab league foreign ministers today and a discussion on syria was on the agenda. foreign affairs reporter is live in london where she's traveling with secretary kerry. elise, is secretary kerry happy with some of the support he's receiving? >> fred, i think he's -- sounds pretty confident that the u.s. would have arab support. he said that saudi arabia basically is supporting u.s. strikes against sir why and he said that a number of countries in the arab league would be saying in the next 24 hours or so that they also support this statement that came out of the g-20 on friday that called for an international response to the use of chemical weapons in

syria. qatar said it was going to support. so i think now the administration is trying to rally around the g-20 statement, getting arab support. you saw earlier in the weekend in lithuania, all 28 european foreign military leaders signed on to a statement calling for a strong military approach. it looks like they're looking better than the one in congress. >> i wonder, were there any concerns expressed by the international community by kerry why they won't be more committed than just kind of lip service. >> reporter: a couple of things. i think first of all there are a lot of different countries that feel different ways. some countries may be willing to lend military support. others political support. some oppose it altogether. i think it's up to each individual country to say what they're going to do. but a lot of countries, particularly the european union, want to wait for the u.n.

inspectors' report, especially france. french president hollande said he'll take part in a military campaign but to get more of that political backing from the european union, he wants to wait for the u.n. report. so clearly, the administration isn't all that happy about it but at this point, fred, it is kind of insignificant waiting for the u.n. inspector report and could be out later in the week and the congressional debate is taking longer than this. tomorrow, stateside, president obama will talk to all six television networks including cnn about the alleged chemical weapons attack in syria. the interview with our wolf blitzer airs tomorrow at 6:00 eastern time here on cnn. and u.s. senator john mccain is sending a strong warning to president obama about intervention in syria. during a radio interview with kfyi mccain said the president bungling the handling of the

syria crisis and deploying u.s. troops would have huge political consequences and obama could face impeachment if military action results in boots on the ground. >> no one wants american boots on the ground. nor will there be american boots on the ground because there would be an impeachment of the president if they did that. >> mccain has endorsed the president's plan, however, for military strikes. president obama wants the american people to be behind him, as well. so tomorrow he will be pressing his case in interviews to wolf blitzer and five other network journalists and tuesday night he delivers a speech from the white house, prime time 9:00 p.m. eastern. meantime, secretary kerry continues to make his push overseas. u.s. officials claim those videos showing the scene of an alleged chemical weapons attack are authentic but they do not show evidence of who is behind the apparent gas attack. a former cia operative weighs in

on what that means for the obama administration.

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secretary of state john kerry speaking out why the white house showed graphic videos of a suspected sarin gas attack in

syria. we must warn you, this video is graphic and apparently shows people dying from the gas attack. men, women, children all seen convulsing on the ground, struggling to breathe and some are dead. kerry said today it's important congress knows what the chemical weapons attack did to syrian civilians before they vote on whether or not to strike syria. >> those videos make it clear to people they're real human beings, real children, parents being affected in way that is are unacceptable to anybody anywhere by any standards. and that it is the united states of america that has always stood with others to say we will not allow this, this is not our values. this is not who we are. >> cnn's barbara starr is at the pentagon. barbara, is there more to these tapes? >> reporter: well, you know, i think the administration is trying to get them out in public more. they are now more on a

congressional website. senator dianne feinstein in california pushing to them out. the idea is that these graphic and terrible as they are will be the public evidence to show people what happened in syria, according to the u.s. administration. what the impact was. and to try and certainly convince more members of congress to support the president. but of course, they probably need to convince the constituents of the american people first. so congressmen will come around. i think that's really part of the strategy here. they say these videos are authentic, of course, and their reasoning behind it is they're shot from multiple angles. they have verification from survivors. imagery satellites from overhead shows it, also. fred? >> you said lawmakers are trying to hear from their constituents.

how are lawmakers reacting to is videos themselves? >> clearly, in the house of representatives, it is going to be a much tougher case by all accounts for the administration to make. there is very senior support in the house. there are members that are coming around and do support the president. but have a listen to two influential lawmakers who perhaps do not. >> no, the video depicts the horrific reaction to chemical weapons. but the video doesn't determine whether we should go to war. and i've talked with my con stint wents and they're overwhelmingly opposed to being to war. i know what the evidence is. and i think the case is not that strong right now. >> my con stint wents are concerned about the what's next. we need to know the possible consequences of the strike. and if it will possible lead to

a scenario whether america gets more deeply involved in the civil war in syria. >> and representative cummings there 'em coeing what a lot of members of congress may be hearing from back home. people want to know what the end game is here. when's the strategy? what's the military goal? what is the real reason and strategy for using u.s. military force against syria? fred? >> bar brar starr, thanks so much from the pentagon. there are few words to describe the horror seen on the tapes but according to a point made in an article by the associated press, quote, what's missing from the public record is direct proof, rather than circumstantial evidence, tying this to the regime. end quote. former cia operative and security analyst bob baer joining me via skype from colorado. bob, some say that the evidence is still circumstantial, that there isn't enough. what more would you want? >> well, fredericka, the problem

is that we can't tie this to bashar al assad. we don't know if rogue officers fired this. we don't know exactly what happened. if you see a lot of people on, you know, up on the air saying who did this, you know, i think this unit did. that's not enough. it is not a smoking gun and i think everybody would like to see that smoking gun before we launch an attack. >> and your sources are telling you something very interesting. your syrian sources are telling you about the potential consequences if, indeed there were a military strike. government sources? citizens? what are they saying? >> these are people in the regime. they have called me up. they come across the border and call me on skype and said on monday bashar al assad made a statement inside the regime that if there's an attack on syria he will respond by hitting israel. i asked them would that be with chemical weapons? they said, no.

conventional and expect it to escalate from there. >> and is there a feeling that evidence, the intelligence community, would be able to collect evidence that would support the notion that these chemical weapons were launched, were used by the orders of the assad regime? by the orders of bashar al assad and not necessarily just someone within his regime? >> the problem is that we can't intercept the president's communications. we can intercept individual units. the president communicates by land line. you can't get in to the communications. so we really won't ever know. what the administration is doing is saying, if you can't control it, too bad. you're responsible. but getting in the international coalition, that's a lot harder. >> is it possible in your view that someone within the assad government would have used these

chemical weapons and bashar al assad wouldn't know about it? >> that's what i'm told my syrian that is are very close to the regime is they're worried about the disintegration of the syrian army. there's a couple captains and majors and the rest beyond orders and some defected, in fact, and it's possible they told me that one of these officers fired the weapons without orders. and of course, if we were to strike against bashar al assad now, it would do nothing to hold the army together. >> what are your concerns if a u.s. strike were to happen? >> i think there's absolute -- positive al assad will order a strike on israel. israel will respond. at this point, he'll use chemical weapons in retaliation and some point hezbollah will be involved. i think it's a mistake to attack. >> how does the u.s. -- how can it be a witness to this and do

nothing? >> that's the problem. it's dilemma. there is no answer for this. if we don't do something today, he will continue to use chemical weapons or somebody will in his army and this will continue to go on. and frankly, i think if there's a time for diplomacy, it is now. >> bob baer, you think that's still possible, diplomacy? >> bringing in iran and russia and turkey at the same table, i don't see it but let's try it. >> all right. thanks so much coming to us colorado today. so president obama's biggest battle for a strike against syria may not be with congress. his biggest opponent may be you, the american people. >> why are you not listening to the people and staying out of syria? it's not our fight. xt big thing, isn't a thing at all? it's lots of things. all waking up. connecting to the global phenomenon

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president obama has a tough road ahead trying to get congress on board for strike against syria. but his biggest battle may be the popular opinion. he's planning to address the nation tuesday and has a full court press of interviews in the next few days, including with our own wolf blitzer. some lawmakers are reluctant to offer support because they say they're getting an earful from constituents. most of whom are against military action. here's athena jones. >> reporter: things got heated at the town hall in phoenix on thursday. >> opposed to having a single american boot on the ground. >> not good enough! >> in syria. >> not good enough at all. >> you don't accept our view. we didn't send you for war. we sent you to stop the were. >> we cannot afford to shed more syrian blood. >> as mccain that supporting

missile strikes in syria trying to convince a skeptical audience that it's in america's national event. it shows the tough task ahead as the white house pushed to win over lawmakers kicks in to high gear. back in washington, the democratic med of the senate intelligence committee who also supports strikes admitted to getting an earful from his constituents. >> there's no question what's coming in is overwhelmingly negative. there's no question about that. but you see, then they don't know what i know. >> reporter: the white house is lobbying members on the phone and in classified briefings. national security adviser susan rice tweeted about a website to help make the case to the american public. but right now it's clear the white house faces an uphill battle to get the votes necessary for authorizing missile strikes. pro-israel lobby apac urging congress to support the resolution saying it must not be

given a free pass. the liberal group move on wants members to vote no and plans to send a petition to congress and the president pushing a more prudent approach than military atta attack. liberal democrats and many republicans are against strikes. and members can still change their minds. here's new york republican congressman michael grimm on monday's "situation room." >> i would want the president's strike to be a very meaningful strike. we cannot allow a precedent of this regime and a regime anything like the assad regime to use chemical weapons. >> reporter: he was singing a different tune by thursday. >> the president and the administration failed to really explain exactly what the plan is, what the goal is, and that's a big problem for me. >> reporter: athena jones, cnn, washington. this breaking story. a carnival ride collapses in connecticut. over a dozen children are hurt.

all right. bottom of the hour now. welcome back. here are five things crossing the cnn news desk right now. number one, u.s. secretary of state john kerry met with arab league foreign ministers today. he is pushing for their support in a military strike against syria. next, kerry will meet with the british foreign secretary.

police in arkansas say they shot and killed a 107-year-old man in a standoff. officers went to a home late last night after getting reports of two aggravated assaults. they say the man shot at them through a bedroom door. when they identified themselves, the s.w.a.t. team tried to negotiate and that failed and officers say the 107-year-old shot at them again. they returned fire and killed him. the investigation is ongoing. number three, police in dallas say this man is responsible for sexual assault that is similar to eight other assaults this summer. they say dna evidence led them to dixon and they've been asking for the public's help to find him. the attacks tyke place between june 22nd to july 21st attacked by a man covering the face with a mask or bandana. two men recovering today after they were bitten by sharks off the florida coast.

it happened off new smyrna beach south of daytona beach, swimming in knee-deep water when one was bitten on the foot and the other on the shin. both are expected to be okay. more shark attacks happen off the florida coast than all of the other coastal states combined. and number five, at least 13 children are hurt after a swing ride malfunctioned today in norwalk, connecticut. it happened in the city's annual foister festival. some of the children are seriously hurt and taken to nearby hospitals. according to the norwalk police department's facebook page, the ride lost power, causing the riders to fall to the ground. other rides were closed after the accident. joining me right now on the phone is miguel cruz. miguel, i understand you were at the festival with your pregnant wife and 7-year-old daughter when the accident occurred. what did you see? >> well, basically, we were just finishing up. we had been on the rides earlier that morning and we were just about to exit when we saw the

commotion of the first responders running through the field and the ambulances and police cars going through, so we heard rumors that something collapsed. we decided to see when's going on and then when we got there, we saw the paramedics and the police officers, you know, on the ground, children laying down. parents with them as just kind of a little chaotic and couldn't see too much because they were keeping us back and hard to watch, too. >> you did not get -- you were on the swing ride but you did see it while it was working, right? why didn't you choose to get on it? >> well, for me, i would probably have gotten nauseous on it so -- but we happened -- we were on the ride for a little while. we needed to take a break and left at that point and i don't know if my daughter isabel wanted to go on it. we skipped it. we saw it in operation. i did notice in the area we kept hearing a like banging sound and i don't know if it was related to the ride or not but every so

often, i don't know a ride stopping or what it was but something didn't sound right and sitting at the ferris wheel, i thought, how safe are the rides because, you know, they break them down, set them up. you never know. and then we hear this happened and it was just kind of a sickening feeling the know that happened. >> wow. and you apparently took a lot of pictures that we're showing. you know? your instincts kicked in to take pictures of a lot of people being treated. overall, you know, did you hear anything at the time? when the accident occurred on that ride. did you see anything that was, you know, that let you know right away that something terrible had happened? >> no. i mean, we actually weren't near the ride at the time of the accident. we heard the commotion of all the sirens and all the little golf carts that the volunteers used or they were racing through to get through to the amusement park area and then heard the sirens and then, you know, word spread. people were saying, you know, a child was crushed.

a ride collapsed. so we walked over. we couldn't see too much because they were trying to keep everybody back and as much as i hate to take photos, i said let me grab a few to document it and maybe somebody might want or use them and then i said let's get out of here. we're in the way. it doesn't help when people stand around. at that point we just had made our way home and, you know, just thinking object it on the way home and hard to think about. >> yeah. thanks so much. wishing the best for those involved and the many injured. we understand some very seriously injured and taken to the hospital and many, of course, as you showed in the pictures were treated on the scene. thanks so much, miguel cruz, there who attended the norwalk oyster festival. all right. meantime, the world is reacting to those gruesome pictures of an alleged gas attack in syria. some people say the videos don't, however, prove who did it. but a former u.n. inspectors

weapon said he knows who might be to blame. he tells us next. [ sneezing ] she may be muddling through allergies. try zyrtec®. powerful allergy relief for adults and kids six years and older. zyrtec®. love the air. yeah. i heard about progressive's "name your price" tool? i guess you can tell them how much you want to pay and it gives you a range of options to choose from. huh? i'm looking at it right now. oh, yeah? yeah. what's the... guest room situation? the "name your price" tool, making the world a little more progressive.

back now to our special coverage of the crisis in syria and the horrifying images of an alleged gas attack on syrian civilians. the senate intelligence committee posted the videos on its website. and they were first obtained by cnn yesterday and they show men, women and children sprawled on the floor convulsing, having a hard time reading and in some cases dying. i wanted to bring in former u.n. weapons inspector david kay. good to see you again, david. >> good to see you. >> why are you convinced syrian government is behind the apparent gas attack and not necessarily a defector who may have access or know how to use the chemical weapons? >> when you look at this and

work past the horror of the pictures, what you see is multiple rocket attacks, several very distinct and different areas and at least one, one that killed the largest number of children, an amount of sarin, probably in excess of 50 liters in a single warhead. terrorists don't have access to that sort of technology. the pictures that have been collected of the actual warhead fragments show a clever answer to a technical problem. how do you show up a warhead containing sarin without by the heat of the explosive charge destroy the sarin itself? sarin does not like heat. there's an external explosive device attached to the warhead that did the bursting charge. this has a hallmarks of a government. it does not speak to whether it was assad himself that personally pushed the button but it makes it quite clear. it wasn't a single defector

acting alone. this is an organized military unit to prepare the warheads and then fired them over multiple locations with unfortunately horrific effects. >> so the u.s. must convince the american public there's more to this video, david. you know, do you think the u.n. report out in possibly a week as i remember you telling me yesterday, that's about how long it might take, will show surveillance or data supporting who is definitively responsible? >> well, definitive is an awfully hard test. i hope that the results of the analysis will speak to the issue of the quality of the sarin and whether it is something that could be prepared by a small group of terrorists or look exactly as a buy their chemical that a government and a military only would have access to with a hallmarks of the preservatives. that's technically positive and i hope the inspectors have driven the analysis that far and can speak to that issue. i also think the u.s. government

is made a serious mistake in cloaking the announcement of the other data it has. we have pictures. we have listened to communications. what actually revealing them. look. this is a time if you want to convince the largest number of people possible that this was directly the syrian government and military doing this, you lay all of your cards open. on the table. you open the envelope and let everyone see what's there. >> might the intelligence community feel like there's danger to releasing all the classified information publicly, such as what you just laid out? is that why perhaps they might keep that material close? and not reveal it publicly. >> i understand from past associations. the intelligence community wants to collect everything and reveal nothing. this is a political decision. it's not made by the intelligence community. the more serious risk is that syria gets off scot-free with only the u.s. being willing to

take steps. you need to make the case willingness and publicly and i would urge what happened to me coming back with reports like this, the security council invited me to speak in closed session to the council before going public. it's amazing. i remember a case after being held hostage in a parking lot, the states that spoke strongest and loudest is cuba and yemen. not friends of the united states. i also think we ought to be sure that the evidence and the speem who speak about this include the french and they speak directly to the iranians. one should not forget, iran had chemical weapons used against it 1981 to 1988 by the iraqis and everyone remained silent. france suffered most from the last time chemical weapons were used in warfare. in fact, large areas arounder have verdanne that are still off

limits. there's a psychological campaign to be sure the iranians and russian vs the data rubbed in their fis. >> how worrisome is that countries like france and saudi arabia and others are saying they support the u.s. military action but not committing any arsenal themselves? >> well, i think that is a wo y worrisome and in fact i think that's the administration's most serious problem. they've got one opportunity and that is that when the inspection report comes back to make the case and try to build an international coalition willing not only to condemn but to join action against the syrians. now, i would say you had bob baer on earlier and i take very serely bob's warning that, in fact, military action against syria could well degenerate in to something much worse and i think that -- the administration needs to give serious consideration to that, too.

>> all right. david kay, thank you so much. always appreciate your insight. thank you. >> thank you, fred. so what happens, indeed, if the u.s. strikes syria? would al ashad and allies launch that revenge attack that they're talking about? we'll outline a few scenarios that could play out. see life in the best light. outdoors, or in. transitions® lenses automatically filter just the right amount of light. so you see everything the way it's meant to be seen. maybe even a little better. experience life well lit. ask for transitions adaptive lenses. check with your employer to see if your vision plan covers transitions brand lenses. and discover the benefits of adaptive lenses. so you can experience life well lit.

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could the interests be at stake? brian todd reports on the potential for fallout that could put u.s. service members and embassies at risk. >> reporter: if american tomahawk missiles fly to syria in the coming day what about the blowback? >> the u.s. needs to be ready. one thing available is russian missiles. >> reporter: kirk lippold commanded the "uss cole" hit by terrorists in 2000. hezbollah hit this israeli ship with a missile in 2006. top u.s. commanders say american ships will keep a safe distance but what could also be in the syrians's range, forces in turkey. look how close the base is to the syrian border, well within the missile range. still, rick francona in syria

says bashar al assad is unlikely to risk striking americans militarily. >> i think the risks associated with this operation are pretty limited. >> reporter: but there's an attack risk. >> to do something against an american interest, american company, an american family, yeah, there are risks involved. >> reporter: last year, u.s. embassies in several middle east countries were attacked and the most serious threat of all? terrorism. >> syria's a state sponsor of terrorism and has been since the list was made in 1979. so, it has ties with a whole host of groups that could carry out attacks against americans or american installations abroad. >> reporter: head boll la is among the most dangerous and iran said america would suffer with a strike. "wall street journal" says there's an all right of attacking the u.s. embassy if america strikes syria and came

in a message intercepted by the u.s. from the revolutionary guard. there's a warning for anyone to retalia retaliate. >> if assad is arrogant enough and i would say foolish enough to retaliate to the consequences of his own criminal activity, the united states and our allies have ample ways to make him regret that decision. >> and that was brian todd reporting. precautionary measures are already being taken. the u.s. evacuated some americans from the embassies in lebanon and have told people in a consulate in southern turkey to be vigilant. president obama is pressing congress to back a u.s.-led strike against syria. up next, two hosts of cnn's "cross fire" debate what the president has to do to sell that plan. ♪ ♪

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monday the president is stepping up his push to get members of congress and the country to back his plan to strike syria. more classified briefings take place on capitol hill and the spth hitting the television networks. president obama sits down with wolf blitzer tomorrow. see it reeight here at 6:00 p.m eastern on cnn. and then tuesday night he'll

address the nation from the white house 9:00 p.m. eastern. i asked two of the "crossfire" hosts about the president's push and what does the president need to do to sell his idea? >> i don't think it's going to pass. i don't think it should pass. i don't think we've done enough to exhaust the diplomatic opportunities. i don't think we built a global coalition or gone to the u.n. i'm more of a dove on this but i think the president has to make a decision. right now he's not hawkish enough for the hawks who want to go in and go in for real. he is not dovish enough for the doves and sitting between the middle and fallen between the cracks. being a modern in this is hurting him. if he wants us to engage, he has to make a strong case for that and lay out a strategy to how we actually have this work out well for us and the syrian people. if he doesn't do that tuesday night, everybody goes to either the hawkish side, dovish side and he is left by himself. >> s.e. something tells me you are in agreement here. >> yeah. i definitely s lly agree the prt

did not sell the case for syria and everything we know now about syria we knew two years ago within the first week of the conflict. we knew that president bashar al assad had chemical weapons and kills hi own people and pipelines to hezbollah and iran and al qaeda was waiting to exploit the chaos as they do. so there was time to gradually sell a case for syria. what the president has to do now is stop confusing the international community and the american public and congress. >> what do you mean? >> by disowning red lines he sets. go out on tuesday night and say -- >> how is he disowning the red line? >> this isn't my red line. it's the world's red line. he needs to say, you're damn right. i have a red line against a dictator gassing kids in the streets and that's my red line. he needs to be passionate about this. >> i think he -- >> we need to see and hear from -- does l just stating that

then, do we need to hear and see from the president if congress is not on board, then he needs to go about it anyway? >> he's already said that. he said he doesn't need congressional approval. >> that's two different things. >> yeah, no. you're right. he has to put the money where his mouth is and assay i want an international coalition, congress to be board. i want the american people to understand -- >> he's saying these things. >> but i'm doing it without them ivan? >> well, now, so s.e. and i disagree on a few things. shockingly enough. i don't think you can say that the president abandoned the red line. i don't agree with him on it. you can't say he's abandoned it. i don't think that he should go in the face of congress. i think he is a courageous president. he has a lot of integrity to go to congress and engage the american people but if congress says no, i don't see how he then says, never mind. that was just a focus group. and i'm going to do whatever i want. he was courageous and right to

go to the american people and -- >> that's leadership, van. if he believes in this conflict, if he believes it's a matter of national security, if he believes in stabilizing the region, that's leadership. >> sure. but there are other things to be done besides going in the face of congress and starting a war that nobody wants and the part of the problem is that we're in this now false dilemma. the president never said you cross the red line and gio to war the next week. he said i change my calculation. there are so many other things that we could be doing that we're not doing. there is a red line, we have to do something. we can't let dictators gas babies and go to war tomorrow, that's the problem. the president should be, if congress says no, leading us to other solutions, building a big coalition, doing an arms embargo, the humanitarian crisis. >> that's a sample. it's back. a "crossfire" and an all-new version of this political show. returning to cnn monday night 6:30 eastern time.

all right. there will be a lot of critical developments on syria this week. we'll tell you what's happening straight ahead. but first, it's challenging for some students to focus in school. well, imagine doing that when everything is a blur. after breaking his glasses, this week's 17-year-old cnn hero found himself in just that position. now, he wants to help others around the world who face the same obstacle. >> i was only 5 years old when i got my first pair of classes. when i was a freshman in high school, i couldn't see anything with broken glasses. i realized just how much glasses meant to me. without them, i rally couldn't do anything normally. i started doing some research and there are millions of students around the world that need glasses but cannot afford them. i had this problem for a week. they have the problems for their whole life. i'm trying to help students around the world see better. >> hi. >> this is for you. >> thank you. >> there are millions of glasses

discarded annually in north america alone. why not put them to good use? so when i was 14, i started reaching out to local optometrists and putting collection boxes in the offices. so when a patient came for new glasses, they could drop off the old pairs of classes. we work with other organizations and they distribute the glasses. the other way is by going on clinic trips. i have glasses we wanted to mail to mexico today and we'll be distributing them to kids in orphanages. it's a personal interaction and what i love. being able to see the people we're helping. >> watching someone get glasses the first time, you know, really inspiring. to date we have collected and distributed over $425,000 worth of eyeglasses equivalent to 185 pairs. i'm 17 years old and although many people believe kids can't make a difference, i have.

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there is movement on syria here in the week ahead. here's a look at the packed timeline this week. on monday, congress wraps up the summer recess and begins debate on the president's proposal far limited military strike in syria. there will also be a closed door intelligence briefing for all members of the house and president obama will give one on one interviews with cnn's wolf blitzer and several other news anchors. on tuesday, the president lays out the case on syria in an address to the nation.

we learned that speech will be delivered in prime time at 9:00 p.m. eastern. then wednesday, top administration officials including u.s. secretary of state john kerry and defense secretary chuck hagel will hold a closed door intelligence briefing for all members of the senate. the senate could hold its first vote on the use of force resolution thursday and then on friday president obama welcomes the amir of kuwait to the white house. the two leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of critical issues, including the crisis in syria. and that's going to do it for me. i'm fredericka whitfield. the "newsroom" continues with don lemon. hello, everyone. i'm don lemon here in new york. this is a very big week ahead. in hours, congress returns to washington divided. many members still unsold on the president's plan for a military strike in syria saying their constituents want a no-vote. white house chief of staff took to the sunday shows making the case for the obama

administration. >> this is not iraq or afghanistan. this is not libya. this is not an extended air campaign. this is something that's targeted, limited and effective so as to underscore that he should not think that he can get away with this again. >> secretary of state john kerry is meeting with arab league ministers in paris today saying saudi arabia has approved international military intervention in syria. other support is uncertain and kerry emphasized urgency. >> some of the other countries that weren't certain whether they could but might have wanted to wanted to go home and consult with their leaders in order to get decisions. but everybody understood that the decisions needed to be made within the next 24 hours. >> president obama will address the nation on syria tuesday night at 9:00 eastern from the white house. before the president speaks to the american people, his team is pushing forward with a massive