U. S. sending army planning unit to Jordan

The U. S. Defense Department is sending about 200 soldiers from an army headquarters unit to Jordan to assist efforts to contain violence along the Syrian border and plan for any operations needed to ensure the safety of chemical weapons in Syria, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Congress. The decision to dispatch the 1st Armored Division troops of planners and specialists in intelligence, logistics and operations comes as several lawmakers pressed the Obama administration for even more aggressive steps to end the two- year civil war. Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the U. S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, faced persistent questions Wednesday from senior members of the armed services committee about efforts to force out Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Pentagon leaders made clear that the situation is extremely complicated and they must be certain of the endgame before any military step to try to end the bloodshed. In Jordan, Information Minister Mohammed Momani confirmed that they would receive 200 American troops as it struggles with the Syrian civil war to its north.