Obama’s Cautious Response To Syria Reflects Lack Of Agreement In Washington On Next Step
By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, April 26, 1:14 PM
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s cautious response to Syria’s likely use of chemical weapons reflects a lack of agreement in Washington over aggressive military intervention, but lawmakers in both parties fear that inaction could embolden not only Syrian President Bashar Assad but U.S. foes as well.
The White House cautiously acknowledged that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons, most likely the agent sarin, in the two-year civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
Obama has declared that the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons would cross a “red line” for a major military response, but the White House made clear Friday that even a quick strike wasn’t imminent.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the prospect of the use of chemical weapons in Syria is “gravely serious,” but he insisted the administration needed more evidence to bolster its intelligence assessments.
“This is not an airtight case,” he said. “We do have some evidence, but we need to build on that.”
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/us-options-on-aiding-syrian-rebels-are-limited-despite-report-on-use-of-chemical-weapons/2013/04/26/d65e7b68-ae40-11e2-b240-9ef3a72c67cc_story.html
