SyriaWhite House closer to decision on providing arms to rebels in Syria
White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to deny reports that President Barack Obama is seriously considering providing arms and other military gear to rebel groups in Syria. The president last year said that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime would constitute crossing of a “red line” and would be a game changer.” Still, haunted by how false intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq led to the 2003 invasion of the country, the Obama administration appears to demand a higher level of evidence about the chemical weapon use in Syria.
White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to deny reports that President Barack Obama is seriously considering providing arms and other military gear to rebel groups in Syria.
TheHill reports thatCarney, in response to questions about U.S. military aid to opposition forces seeking the removal of Syrian President Bashar Assad, would only say that Obama is weighing all his options.
“I’m not ruling that out; I’m just not ruling it in, either,” Carney said at Tuesday’s White House press briefing.
“It is our policy. We have not and are not providing weapons to the Syrian opposition, but we are continuing to review our options,” Carney added.
The Washington Post reported that Obama was getting close to making a decision to arm rebel groups in Syria. The country’s conflict has so far claimed more than 80,000 dead and displaced more than two million Syrians.
The Obama administration has also continued its efforts to ascertain the source of chemical weapons use on 19 March near the city of Aleppo. The president last year said that the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime would constitute crossing of a “red line” and would be a game changer.” Still, haunted by how false intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq led to the 2003 invasion of the country, the Obama administration appears to demand a higher level of evidence about the chemical weapon use in Syria.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been urging the administration to take a tougher stance toward Syria, calling for the establishment of a no-fly zone in the country as well as providing rebel forces with weapons.
Carney told reporters that the United States has increased its non-lethal aid to rebel groups and has taken steps to learn more about the group.
One of the major concerns of the administration, a concern shared by Israel, Jordan, and Turkey, is that weapons supplied to the rebels could end up in the hands of militant groups tied to al Qaeda.
“We have obviously been escalating assistance and broadened the type of assistance, and I think that represents a deeper engagement with the opposition,” Carney told reporters. “I won’t foreshadow what actions will be taken in coming days, weeks and months, except to say we’ll evaluate all possible options.”
