Pentagon adjusts plans for more intense attacks on Syria

[cali]

The Pentagon is preparing for a longer bombardment of Syria than it originally had planned, with a heavy barrage of missile strikes followed soon after by more attacks on targets that the opening salvos missed or failed to destroy, officials said.

The planning for intense attacks over a three-day period reflects the growing belief in the White House and the Pentagon that the United States needs more firepower to inflict even minimal damage on Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, which have been widely dispersed over the last two weeks, the officials said.

Two U.S. officers said the White House asked for an expanded target list in recent days to include many more than the 50 or so targets on the initial list. As a result, Pentagon planners are weighing whether to use Air Force bombers, in addition to five warships now on patrol in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, to launch cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles from hundreds of miles offshore, well out of range of Syrian air defenses.

Syria is also within range of an aircraft carrier strike group in the Red Sea, which includes one cruiser and three destroyers, all capable of firing cruise missiles.

<snip>

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-syria-strikes-20130908,0,6708714.story

[David__77]

1. The greatest error in an Obama quote...

"Failing to respond to this outrageous attack would increase the risk that chemical weapons... would fall into the hands of terrorists who might use them against us."

Actually, precisely the OPPOSITE is true; destroying the command and control capacity of the Syrian army will degrade their ability to prevent those stocks from being seized by other parties. It is completely obvious that this is the case. If then such an attack actually occurs, there will most certainly be blowback that would freeze anyone's celebratory smile.

[newfie11]

2. Their going to do this

Even though most of the world is against this and the majority in this country is against this.
I guess we know who is in charge of America now!
We are run my MIC, hello Big Brother!
God I want out of this country, what a mess we have become.
Sadly many people here still have no idea this is happening or don't seem to care!

[cali]

3. they trust the President to make the right decision

which I find truly pathetic.

[newfie11]

4. Sheeple

Is this the way democracy dies! A lot is riding on what happens in the next week or so.

[Turbineguy]

5. The crazy teabaggers

who say Obama is a dictator may turn out to be right. That would be a shame too.

[newfie11]

6. Sadly. +1. Nt