US ready to attack Syria alone after UK Commons defeat

British Premier David Cameron’s motion for participation in a military attack on Syria was defeated Thursday in a parliament vote by 285 to 272 votes, with 13 abstentions. Cameron pledged to abide by the wishes of parliament. He had tried diluting the motion by defining it as sanctioning a strong humanitarian response which may include military action. Thirty members of his own Conservative party and 9 of his coalition partner, the Liberals, crossed the line and voted with the Labor opposition against the government, presenting Britain with a major leadership crisis. 
In Washington, the White House signalled that it was ready to act against Syria regardless of UN or allied support.