Defense Sec. Panetta Stresses Importance of 'Legal Basis' & 'International Permission' for Military Action

During testimony this week in front of a Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Sec. Leon Panetta stunned Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) by saying the U.S. would seek a "legal basis" and "international permission" for military action in Syria (especially if the action was the work of a coalition). The response came after a question of whether the military would seek congressional approval for any action overseas: