U.S. Sets Stage for Bigger Syria Role
Wall Street Journal
By Adam Entous in Washington and Sam Dagher in Damascus
Updated: 8/25/2013
Excerpt:
The Obama administration hardened its stance against Syria's regime and stepped up preparations for possible military action, saying it believed Damascus used chemical weapons in an offensive last week and rebuffing its offer to let United Nations officials inspect the affected areas.
The White House, in statements issued by senior officials, signaled it wasn't backing away from a showdown with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad despite apparent efforts by Damascus to ease tensions by letting U.N. inspectors visit areas near Damascus that were allegedly hit with chemical weapons.
In recent days, the Pentagon has moved more warships into place in the eastern Mediterranean should President Barack Obama give the order to attack, officials said. The Pentagon has prepared military options for the White House that include cruise missile strikes on regime targets, officials said.
"If the Syrian government had nothing to hide and wanted to prove to the world that it had not used chemical weapons in this incident, it would have ceased its attacks on the area and granted immediate access to the U.N. five days ago," the U.S. official said. "At this juncture, the belated decision by the regime to grant access to the U.N. team is too late to be credible, including because the evidence available has been significantly corrupted as a result of the regime's persistent shelling and other intentional actions over the last five days."
The official said that—based on the reported number of victims, the reported symptoms of those who were killed or injured and other information—"there is very little doubt at this point that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in this incident."
The official said Mr. Obama is still assessing how to respond to "this indiscriminate use of chemical weapons." U.S. intelligence agencies are still probing last week's incident, and could present a final assessment to Mr. Obama within days.
WSJ's Adam Entous and Carol E. Lee lay out the options facing President Obama in Syria, as he gets even more pressure to step up U.S. involvement and oust President Assad after the regime's alleged mass use of chemical weapons. Photo: AP
Earlier, the U.N. said its inspection team was preparing to start its fact-finding mission on Monday after Syria said it would allow U.N. inspectors now in Damascus immediate access to areas around the capital where the opposition accused the regime of using chemical weapons against fighters and civilians last week.
Syrian state television reported a deal was reached following a meeting between Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and Angela Kane, the U.N. disarmament chief, who arrived in Damascus on Saturday. It said the timing of the visit would be coordinated between the U.N. team led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom and the Syrian government.
"The foreign minister affirmed Syria's desire to cooperate with the team of inspectors to unmask the falsehood of the allegations by terrorist groups that Syrian forces used chemical weapons in the eastern Ghouta," it added, referring to the eastern suburbs of Damascus and using the government's term for the rebels battling the regime.
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View the complete article at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...LEFTTopStories
Wall Street Journal
By Adam Entous in Washington and Sam Dagher in Damascus
Updated: 8/25/2013
Excerpt:
The Obama administration hardened its stance against Syria's regime and stepped up preparations for possible military action, saying it believed Damascus used chemical weapons in an offensive last week and rebuffing its offer to let United Nations officials inspect the affected areas.
The White House, in statements issued by senior officials, signaled it wasn't backing away from a showdown with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad despite apparent efforts by Damascus to ease tensions by letting U.N. inspectors visit areas near Damascus that were allegedly hit with chemical weapons.
In recent days, the Pentagon has moved more warships into place in the eastern Mediterranean should President Barack Obama give the order to attack, officials said. The Pentagon has prepared military options for the White House that include cruise missile strikes on regime targets, officials said.
"If the Syrian government had nothing to hide and wanted to prove to the world that it had not used chemical weapons in this incident, it would have ceased its attacks on the area and granted immediate access to the U.N. five days ago," the U.S. official said. "At this juncture, the belated decision by the regime to grant access to the U.N. team is too late to be credible, including because the evidence available has been significantly corrupted as a result of the regime's persistent shelling and other intentional actions over the last five days."
The official said that—based on the reported number of victims, the reported symptoms of those who were killed or injured and other information—"there is very little doubt at this point that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in this incident."
The official said Mr. Obama is still assessing how to respond to "this indiscriminate use of chemical weapons." U.S. intelligence agencies are still probing last week's incident, and could present a final assessment to Mr. Obama within days.
WSJ's Adam Entous and Carol E. Lee lay out the options facing President Obama in Syria, as he gets even more pressure to step up U.S. involvement and oust President Assad after the regime's alleged mass use of chemical weapons. Photo: AP
Earlier, the U.N. said its inspection team was preparing to start its fact-finding mission on Monday after Syria said it would allow U.N. inspectors now in Damascus immediate access to areas around the capital where the opposition accused the regime of using chemical weapons against fighters and civilians last week.
Syrian state television reported a deal was reached following a meeting between Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and Angela Kane, the U.N. disarmament chief, who arrived in Damascus on Saturday. It said the timing of the visit would be coordinated between the U.N. team led by Swedish scientist Ake Sellstrom and the Syrian government.
"The foreign minister affirmed Syria's desire to cooperate with the team of inspectors to unmask the falsehood of the allegations by terrorist groups that Syrian forces used chemical weapons in the eastern Ghouta," it added, referring to the eastern suburbs of Damascus and using the government's term for the rebels battling the regime.
........................................
View the complete article at:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...LEFTTopStories
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