WASHINGTON — President Obama is ready to go to war in Syria and he says he has the power to do it. But he's not going to pull the trigger until Congress weighs in.

"After careful consideration, I have decided the United States should take action against Syrian regime targets," Obama said in Rose Garden address Saturday.

But he said the attacks won't come until Congress has had its say, which won't happen until they come back to Washington at the end of their August recess.

"Having made my decision as Commander-In-Chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interest, I'm also mindful that I'm president of the world's oldest Constitutional democracy," Obama said. "That's why I've made a second decision. I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress."

Obama said Congressional leaders of both parties have "agreed to schedule a debate and then a vote as soon as Congress comes back in session."

The president said he doesn't need Congressional authorization to strike Syria, but he's going to ask for it anyway.

"While I believe I have the authority to take military action without specific Congressional authorization, I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course and our actions will be even more effective," Obama said. "We should have this debate because the issues are too big for business as usual."

Obama's remarks Saturday followed a week of debate around the world over how to respond to the alleged chemical attacks on Syrian civilians. A preliminary U.S. government assessment released this week stated that 1,429 people were killed in the chemical weapons attack earlier this month, including at least 426 children and put the blame on the Syrian government for the attacks.