Miley cyrus catching everyone off guard today. Monday, august 26th, 2013. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with matt lauer and Savannah Guthrie. Live from studio 1a in Rockefeller Plaza. And good morning, everyone. Welcome to today on a monday morning. Im Savannah Guthrie. Im Carl Quintanilla. Mike bettes has the morning off. Did you stay up to watch the vmas . No. I never felt so old in my life. Miley, wow. Wow. Well have a lot more of that including the reaction from inside the hall. A lot of people couldnt believe that shall we say, dramatic performance. Also ahead, a dramatic 911 call from a 12yearold boy who was home alone and kept his cool when two burglars broke in. But well begin with the crisis in syria and how the white house will respond to the governments apoeur pair apoeurant use of chemical weapons. We have two reports this morning. Well start with richard engle. She in turkey near the syrian border. Richard, good morning to you. Reporter good morning, savannah. We just came out of syria. That is syria right behind us. That is the turkish to syria gateway. And when we were inside talking to syrians they were desperate asking for the United States to intervene militarily. They said yes, this is not the United States war. They dont want american troops here. They dont want this to become another iraq but they said if there is not a military response from the world super power after what everyone in this country and inside syria absolutely believes was a chemical attack, that if theres no response it will only encourage Bashar Alassad to use chemical weapons again. We saw families who are terrified of chemical weapons. We met a family that just escaped their village and came closer to this area because theyre afraid of more chemical weapons attacks. We saw a hospital where theyre trying to defend themselves and prepare for receiving patients that may have been exposed to toxic elements and nerve agents and their capabilities are extremely limited. They set up a caravan, a nose to wash people off, to get them off of them and one gas mask. They are not prepared for what they fear would be the next phase of this war and they say that Bashar Alassad started with guns and then used helicopters, and now in their opinion is using chemical gas, and also somebody does something it will only escalate further this morning, savannah. All right. Richard engle, thank you very much. Lets bring in andrea mitchell, nbcs chief Foreign Affairs correspondence. Good morning. Syrias government allowed un inspector seems teams to get to the site of the suspected Chemical Attacks. But u. S. Officials say this is too little, too late. Reporter the u. S. And its allies are now considering military options. Most likely cruise missiles from Navy Destroyers or the mediterranean or jets targeting syrian command and control or airfields from which Chemical Attacks could be launched. We do know there are four warships off the coast of syria. Missiles are an option to try to take out these chemical stock piles. And i think thats an option the president should be looking at. Reporter owe Officials Say the evidence the regime used chemical weapons is now hard to ignore. After these horrifying imagines backed up by International Organizations like froms without borders. Hundreds of men, women, and children, delivered by rockets not even possessed by rebel forces. No longer in doubt about the Chemical Attacks the president and secretary of state spent the weekend calling key arab and european allies. Were clear in the British Government that the regime carried out this large scale chemical attack last wednesday that lead to the death, the agonizing death of so many hundreds of people including tragically so many children. With Russias Vladimir Putin blocking u. N. Action against syria, theyre looking for a man date from nato allies and the arab world. A big test for president obama. Its the credibility of the United States. If were not willing to punish regimes that violate international law. If were not willing to act on our own red lines then no other country, friend or foe, will take us seriously. The pentagon has its target list ready for limited air strikes. Nothing is imminent but this is moving very, very quickly. Back to you, savannah. Andrea mitchell, thank you very much. Republican senator bob corker of tennessee is the Ranking Member on the Foreign Relations committee. Good morning to you. Good morning, savannah, good to be with you. Good to be with you as well. My first question is is u. S. Credibility really on the line here . If your mind, is military action now required, no longer an option . Well, savannah, i do think that the administration feels like that theres no question chemicals were used. I think theyre rallying support around our nato allies. Hopefully theyll come to congress with an authorization as soon as we get back. I think action is going to occur. I think we realized recently that the u. N. Inspectors are not looking to see who is to blame with these gases, theyre only to looking to see if it occurred. I believe we are talking about military action. You have suggested what you call the surgical and proportional strike. I would like to have you elaborate on that. Are you imagining something simply to send a message or deter or involvement that would radically alter the military situation on the ground . I do think we should continue the policy put in place now and that is to support the opposition on the ground. I think we should continue that. I dont think our strike ought to be something that tries to alter that dynamic. I think it should be surgical. It should be proportional. It should be in response to what has happened with the chemicals. But the fact is, i dont want us to get involved in such a way that we change that dynamic on the ground. Isnt that the tricky part of it, though . Even the chairman of the joint chiefs said in the past that deeper involvement is hard to avoid. Its hard to dip your toe into this conflict without getting mired more deeply into it in a way thats hard to get out of. Yeah, i think savannah youre hitting on that fine point, and that is certainly a red line for us has been the use of chemicals against people. That has occurred. We need to obviously respond to that but i dont want us to change our overall policy and i think getting that right and theres a way of doing that. I know the administration is working on that. I talked to the situation room last night. I think we can get that right without us getting mired in a conflict that obviously is not something we want to do. Senator bob corker. Also good to get your perspective, sir. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Carl. Savannah, thanks. That raging wildfire near yosemite is growing more dangerous threatening the National Park and nearby homes. Tom costello is in california, good morning. Reporter carl, good morning to you. This town is serving as a staging area, a base camp for thousands of firefighters assigned to this incident. Firefighters inside yosemite who are watching the seqoias very closely but also firefighters here are holding the line. Deep into that the night and Early Morning the battle to contain this Massive Wildfire is 24 7. I think were going to be able to hold this thing. Reporter 200 square miles and growing, the stakes could not be higher should the fire jump the line on the west, this town sits directly in its path. But the Wright Family isnt leaving confident in the air attack. All we have to do is get in our cars and leave. Everything is packed up ready to go . Everything is ready to go. Reporter bob baits is the l. A. City fire captain watching their house. They have to stay here and shelter in place and we have to try to protect them as much as we can. Its a bigger challenge. Reporter its where firefighters are making a stand to protect this town of 1700 and others. From across california, fire crews and apparatus crews are staging here. Some of the residents are awe struck. We have a serious situation going on here. Theyre going to be our heros. Reporter just outside of town its physical exertion. They are removing bonedry brush and cutting fire breaks. For the kids in these Northern California communities the fire means more timeout of school but when your dad is on the fire line its hard to enjoy the time off. Its hard to sleep. I worry about him 24 7 because hes a firefighter and i dont want him to get hurt because hes been hurt before fighting fires and its scary he is out there. They have evacuated reporter meanwhile, inside yosemite National Park, not as many tourist with the smoke on the horizon, but the valley floor remains safe. While the trees are also safe, park rangers are clearing nearby brush and watering them down, just in case. Fire commanders say the yosmite granite rock cliffs, they have protected the park for centuries from fires, and they should do it again but they are worried about the floating embers that could travel for a mile and a half and those embers can also touch off other fires. Tom, costello, thanks. Meantime, breaking news for another controversy for the National Security agency. If you you can believe new fallout this morning tied to the Edward Snowden scandal. According to a german magazine, the nsa secretly monitored the u. N. s new york headquaters by haanizations Video Conferencing system. Nbcs chief white house correspondent, chuck todd, is in wash with those details. Good morning, tamron, thats right. Edward snowden strikes again in documents leaked as you just noted. Heres what we learned. The nsa was able to tap into a United NationsVideo Conferencing system. They were able to spy on the European Unions delegation both to the United Nations and other places and according to these documents, the nsa has a special collection unit. While that is about spying on and using some 80 u. S. Embough seas and consulates as hubs to spy on various u. S. Allies. Now the timing of these leaks couldnt be more precarious for the United States. First of all in germany theyre in an Election Year. So this is turning into a sticky Election Year situation for merkel and her relationship with president obama. But now he is in the middle of getting western allies in europe to side with him to do something with syria so the timing of this couldnt be worse for the obama administration. Chuck, the saga continues. Thank you very much. Growing concern in iraq this morning after another wave of deadly violence. At least 46 people were killed on sunday as insurgents carried out a series of attacks. More than 3,000 people have been killed in iraq over the past few months. It is the worst rash of deadly violence there since 2008. Japan takes the crown in the Little League world series. Japan turned a double play for the final out getting the 64 win over the team from chula vista, california. This is the 14th time japan played in the Little League title game and their 9th championship. And pit row can be a dangerous place. A few crew members found that out the hard way, you might say, at the indy car race. With about 65 laps to go, the leader, scott dixon and will power pull into the pit. Dixon drives off and clips a member of the crew setting off a chain reaction. Thankfully everyone okay. Scott dixon was penalized and ended upcoming in second to power. That is cra. And now it is 7 13. I say cray because i watched the vmas. Cray cray. Over 40 we say cray cray. Under 40 says cray. Thank you for that. That was a lesson in vocabulary. We have a lot of weather going on, especially in a place you wouldnt expect it, and that is in the southwest. Plenty of flooding going on in las vegas and valanciunas. We have water up to the wheel wells here. Homes and businesses here. More rain could be effecting these places today all from Tropical Storm eva. That is having influence in the southwest. Flooding is an issue were following in multiple states, that does include around palm springs and las vegas as well. Heads up. It will be a tough day for you in a lot of places. Thats whats going on around the country. A look at your local weather coming up in 30 seconds. A look at your local weather coming up in 30 seconds. telephone rings hi, honey. Hows the camping trip . Well, kids had fun, but i think i slept on a rock. What are you doing . Having coffee. Ah, sounds good i thought youd say that. Ah. The best part of wakin up. Youre the best wake up to the mountain grown aroma of folgers. Is folgers in your cup 7 15 on a backtomorning monday. Im meteorologist Christina Loren. The sky is starting the clear over San Francisco. A pretty comfortable day ahead across the bay area. 86 in livermore, 74 for fremont and 65 in u the city by the ba. Into the next couple days, well warm up just by a couple degrees and cool you right back off thursday into friday with a comfortable weekend just around the corner. Hope you have a great day. And that is a look at your weather. Heres savannah. Thank you so much. The mtv Video Music Awards were last night and got to have people talking this morning. Mara was up late watching the highlights good morning to you. Good morning. It was cray. For the First Time Ever the vmas and moon man statue headed to brooklyn. Everyone was excited about an nsync reunion andady gagas return but it was a performance by miley cyrus that really got everyones attention. Where have you gone Hannah Montana . Last night it was miley mtv style. The 20yearold twerking her way on stage and out of her clothing to her single we cant stop. It was a performance that included a tv version of blurred lis. It left some in the audience like will smiths family shocked. But before the big show on the red carpet, it was all about what the stars were wearing. Coture. Can i pet it . Its so soft. What are the vmas without taylor swift drama. First appearae telling harry styles of one direction to shut up and then less subtle when picking up a moon man for i knew you were trouble. I also want to thank the person that inspired this song who knows exactly who he is because now i got one of these. But the night was all about the star performances. We got up close and personal with lady gaga. Kanye west turned out the lights. And katy perry gave a knockout performance in the shadow of the brooklyn bridge. But in the end, one man was the champ. Who are you looking forward to tonight . Justi timberlake. Justin timberlake is awesome. Reporter Justin Timberlake delivered one of the nights most anticipated performances and reunions getting back in step with nsync. Timberlake won video of the year which he dedicated to his grandparents. My grandfather passed away in december so i know i hope my grandmother is watching right now. This is for you granny. Now, there were also serious moments in the show. Gay rights took center stage throughout the night. Macklemore and ryan lewis winning best video with a social message and Jason Collins presented talking about his decision to come out but its miley cyrus who has everyone talking this morning. Talking or in stunned silence. Yes, like the will smith family. We are not in montana anymore. I have gotten some tweets about this. Someone tweeted me that that performance immediately sent her 11yearold through puberty. Someone tweeted out why is miley cyrus dancing with a prisoner in a 1940s uniform. Because he had the pinstriped suit on. Im speechless. I dont know what to say. Im one of those people that i saw the clip and i just i dont know. I know. How about j. T. . The guy can do no wrong. He is awesome. Next trick is going to be turning water into wine. Really, carl . Yeah. Hes the man of the moment. Its j. T. , not j. C. He won the Michael Jackson van guard award, which is fitting. What about nsync . They were good . Yeah, coming up i dont do it. Donald trump accused of running a pho university that cost students thousands of dollars. Hell speak out live on the 40 million lawsuit he is now facing. Is it legal . The new app that lets you track somebodys every move, even monitor their phone calls. But first, this is today on nbc. I gotta have that bag. Italian leather . For an amazing deal, and i love that designer. [ shopper ] you paid how much for that . [ female announcer ] two stores. Two amazing ways to score. T. J. Maxx and marshalls. Still ahead, was the legend dare battle of the sexes fixed . Its a very big story. Did you hear about this encouraging news for the National Zoos newest giant panda . The hard part is getting it away from the mom so they could test it. Well go there live. But first your lal news and weather. Nobody knows wherer whn the next powerful storm is going to hit. But it will. Thats why theres a new duracell battery. Introducing duracell quantum. With its high density core, its a quantum leap in battery power. The next storm is out there. But so are the heroes. So were giving a million duracell quantum to First Responders everywhere. Power. In the hands of the most powerful. D