Wednesday, August 28, 2013

SYRIA - While Assad Howls the U.S. is 'Ready to Go'

"U.S. Military 'Ready to Go' for Syria, Assad Warns Strike Would Be 'Failure'" (Part-1) PBS Newshour 8/27/2013

Excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour):  The eyes of the world were focused on Washington and other Western capitals today amid rising expectations that an attack on Syria is coming soon.

The Obama administration insisted again there is no doubt the Assad regime used chemical weapons last week in a Damascus suburb.  Inside the White House, the emphasis was on laying the legal groundwork for a possible military strike in Syria.

Spokesman Jay Carney pointed out that nearly 190 nations have signed a convention opposing the use of chemical weapons.

JAY CARNEY, White House Press Secretary:  There must be a response.  Kerry made that clear at the president's instruction yesterday.  I echoed that here yesterday and I'm echoing it again today.  There must be a response.  We cannot allow this kind of violation of an international norm with all the attendant grave consequences that it represents to go unanswered.

What form that response will take is what the president is assessing now with his team.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  Whatever form it takes, Carney was quick to say the goal will be limited.

JAY CARNEY:  I want to make clear that the options that we are considering are not about regime change.  They are about responding to a clear violation of an international standard that prohibits the use of chemical weapons.



"White House Debates Best Way to Punish, Prevent Syrian Chemical Arms Use" (Part-2) PBS Newshour 8/27/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  If the U.S. doesn't wait for the U.N. to finish inspecting the alleged chemical weapons attack site in Syria before taking action, it may still rely on those findings in building an international case.  Margaret Warner joins Judy Woodruff to discuss how the White House continues to consult allies and consider military action.

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