The Topline: President Obama weighed in on the military’s present problem of sexual assault Tuesday, vowing to hold military leaders accountable in response to a new Pentagon report showing cases are on the rise.

Obama said that he had “no tolerance” for sexual assault in the military, saying those responsible should be court-martialed, fired and dishonorably discharged.

"I expect consequences. I don't want just more speeches, awareness programs or training where people ultimately look the other way," Obama said Tuesday at a news conference with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

The president’s comments on sexual assault in the military could bring new urgency to an issue that has long plagued the services.

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Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterparts agreed on Tuesday to establish a bilateral peace council, in an attempt to bring the two-year Syrian civil war to an end. 

President Obama on Tuesday told Congress he is extending the imposition of sanctions against Syria for another year — they were due to expire on May 11.

In a notice to Congress, Obama said Syria has reduced the facilitation of foreign fighters into Iraq, it's ongoing civil war against Syrian civilians means the sanctions will continue.

After spending billions to get the Navy's premiere warship ready for combat, the vessel is still falling short of expectations.  

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Obama said he expects "consequences" after a Pentagon report showed a sharp rise in reported sexual assault incidents.

The Pentagon's review of its overall military strategy, designed to address huge budget cuts under sequestration, is nearly complete. 

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Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno said Tuesday that sequestration could place the U.S. military at greater risk next year if it’s called on to intervene in Syria.

Odierno said that after three or four months, the military’s readiness will be hindered due to the automatic budget cuts, increasing the risk in a possible U.S. intervention.

“Readiness is OK right now, but it’s degrading significantly because our training is reducing,” Odierno said at a breakfast roundtable with reporters. “So the next three, four months, we probably have the capability to do it. Next year it becomes a little bit more risky because our readiness is lower.”

The Pentagon's funding request for the final years of the Afghan war will arrive on Capitol Hill by the end of this month, according to the department's No. 2 official. 

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) on Tuesday called on Congress to pass new legislation to strengthen sexual assault prevention measures in the military, on the same day the Defense Department released a report showing sexual assaults increased in 2012.

Speier was also reacting to reports that Lt. Col. Jeff Krusinski, the chief sexual assault prevention officer, was charged with sexual battery over the weekend.