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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Obama warns Syria chemical weapons use may spark US action |
| 2012-08-20 |
| US President Barack Obama has said the use of chemical weapons by Syria would be a "red line" that would change his thinking on intervention in the crisis. He said he had "at this point not ordered military engagement". Valerie drew the line there... But he added: "There would be enormous consequences if we start seeing movement on the chemical weapons front or the use of chemical weapons." President Obama, speaking to reporters at a White House briefing, said the deployment or use of biological weapons would widen the conflict in the region. He said: "It doesn't just include Syria. It would concern allies in the region, including Israel, and it would concern us." He warned President Bashar al-Assad and "other players on the ground" about the use or movement of such weapons. He said: "A red line for us is [if] we see a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around, or being utilised. That would change my calculus." Syria holds the world's fourth-largest stockpile of chemical weapons. Last month a Syrian foreign ministry spokesman said the weapons would never be deployed inside Syria. However, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says the US has seen unconfirmed reports recently that the Syrian authorities have been moving the country's chemical arms stockpile. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #2 Enormous consequences? Not nearly as big as for the people on the ground in Syria who get exposed to mustard gas or nerve agents. How exactly do they plan to clean up that cr**?? That scenario gives whole new meaning to the word MESS in the Middle East. By the time US forces show up - chem agents would have been released. What exactly are our guys supposed to do? Why should we even risk exposing anyone?? It hardly seems to be worth the risks to our own troops. |
| Posted by: Raider 2012-08-20 22:21 |
| #1 Valerie drew the line there... As he said, it would only change his thinking. Line will be redrawn. A few times, maybe more. Nothing to see here... |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2012-08-20 21:21 |