In Syria debate, little mention of rebels  —  An image grab taken from a video shows an opposition fighter firing an rocket propelled grenade (RPG) on August 26, 2013 during clashes with regime forces over the strategic area of Khanasser, situated on the only road linking Aleppo to central Syria.

Top-secret U.S. intelligence files show new levels of distrust of Pakistan  —  The $52.6 billion U.S. intelligence arsenal is aimed mainly at unambiguous adversaries, including al-Qaeda, North Korea and Iran.  But top-secret budget documents reveal an equally intense focus on one purported ally: Pakistan.

Vote on Syria Sets Up Foreign Policy Clash Between 2 Wings of G.O.P.  —  WASHINGTON — The Congressional vote on whether to strike Syria will offer the best insight yet on which wing of the Republican Party — the traditional hawks, or a growing bloc of noninterventionists …

Jeffrey Bezos, Washington Post's next owner, aims for a new ‘golden era’ at the newspaper  —  Jeffrey P. Bezos, the next owner of The Washington Post, says he doesn't have all the answers for what's ailing the newspaper industry or for the financially challenged news organization he is preparing to buy.

Microsoft to acquire Nokia's devices & services business, license Nokia's patents and mapping services  —  Microsoft Corporation and Nokia Corporation today announced that the Boards of Directors for both companies have decided to enter into a transaction whereby Microsoft will purchase substantially …

Sweet Cakes closing shop amid same-sex rift  —  GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) — A bakery embroiled in controversy after an owner refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple is closing up its Gresham storefront.  —  According to the “Sweet Cakes by Melissa” Facebook page …

Father who beat to death man he caught raping his five-year-old daughter will NOT face charges because of Texas state laws on deadly force  — A young father who beat his daughter's rapist to death after walking in on the assault will not face charges according to the states grand jury

DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz: U.S. has ‘dozens’ of allies  —  Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the U.S. would be bolstered with support from “dozens” of international allies if the United States makes military strikes against Syria.

RIP Frederik Pohl, the man who transformed science fiction  —  One of the leading lights of the science fiction world, editor and author Frederik Pohl, passed away this weekend after a career that defined the genre for decades.  —  His granddaughter Emily Pohl Weary confirmed the news:

Your Labor Day Syria Reader, Part 2: William Polk  —  Many times I've mentioned the foreign-policy assessments of William R. Polk, at right, who first wrote for the Atlantic (about Iraq) during Dwight Eisenhower's administration, back in 1958, and served on the State Department's Policy Planning staff during the Kennedy years.

Dennis Rodman Returns to North Korea to Visit Kim  —  HONG KONG — The former basketball star Dennis Rodman returned Tuesday to North Korea, where he plans “to see my friend” Kim Jong-un, the dictator whose country until recently was threatening to annihilate the United States with nuclear weapons.

Syria Prepares for U.S. Attack  —  The Assad regime prepared for a U.S. military attack on the capital, urging civilian evacuations, moving soldiers into vacant apartments and issuing new threats of retaliation.  —  DAMASCUS, Syria—The Assad regime prepared for a U.S. attack on the capital despite …

Last resort: When all else failed, Obama went to Congress  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL WHITE HOUSE CONGRESS BARACK OBAMA SYRIA  —  One factor that could complicate President Obama's effort to win congressional authorization for his plan to attack the Syrian regime is that …

MC Anthony Weiner Parades West Indian Style, Sorta: “Anybody Here From Jamaica?”  —  Anthony Weiner may be lagging in the polls, but his West Indian Day Parade float — complete with dancehall-style DJ and Weiner (MC Carlos Danger?) himself on the mic — put his mayoral rivals' productions to shame Monday.

Obama To Meet With LGBT Activists While In Russia  —  After canceling a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin while there for the G20 summit, Obama may anger the Kremlin further by meeting with Russian activists — including from LGBT groups.  —  Jason Reed / Reuters

Syrian Electronic Army Hacks Marines Website  —  A collection of pro-Syrian government hackers apparently defaced a Marine Corps recruitment website Monday.  —  The Syrian Electronic Army, which has hacked a series of websites, posted a letter on the Marines.com website arguing the Syrian government is “fighting a vile common enemy.”