USA TODAY International Edition
Syria braces for U. S. strike
United Nations chief urges more diplomacy as Syrians flee to border.
President Obama said Wednesday he has not yet made a decision on whether he will order a military strike against Syria but said the U. S. government has “concluded” that Bashar Assad’s regime has deployed chemical weapons.
In an interview on PBS’ NewsHour following his address to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, Obama added that he has “no interest” in an open- ended conflict.
“I have not made a decision,” Oba- ma said in the interview. “I have gotten options from our military, had extensive discussions with my national security team.”
Obama said, however, that the Syrian regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons would factor into his calculation to act, and he warned that the Assad should be held accountable.
Meanwhile, the Middle East braced for a possible U. S. strike as the United Nations Security Council failed Wednesday to agree on a resolution condemning Syria.
Syrians streamed for the border from the capital of Damascus on Wednesday and Israel called up reservists in case of trouble. Russia warned against a military strike, and the head of the U. N. pleaded for more time for diplomacy to work.
The Security Council did not act on the draft resolution submitted by the British to condemn Syria for gassing hundreds of civilians and autho- rize “necessary measures to protect civilians.”
Such wording could open the door to U. N. approval of military action against Syria, a move Security Council member Russia threatened to block with its veto power.
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said the Assad regime is guilty of using chemical weapons in its battle with rebels seeking to topple the administration. It said it was time for the Security Council to “live up to its responsibilities on Syria.”
A Western diplomat who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private said Russia reiterated its objections to international intervention in the Syrian crisis.
Al Arabiya, a news agency based in Saudi Arabia, reported that rebel forces say Assad has begun evacuating some military bases and regime offices in expectation of an attack. Many Syrians who have supported the regime were getting out of the capital; the U. N. reported 6,000 people arrived at the border with Jordan in a 24- hour period.
U. S. naval ships remained in position in the Mediterranean off the coast of Syria, and warplanes from the United Kingdom were gathered at a base on the island of Cyprus.
Israel called up reserve soldiers with expertise in homeland defense while urging an increasingly nervous public to go about their lives amid threats of an attack from Middle East adversaries who vow to target Israel if the United States strikes Syria.
U. N. Secretary- General Ban Ki Moon said the U. N. team investigating the alleged chemical attack must be given time to establish the facts before any attack. Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian group based in France, says at least 350 people were killed Aug. 21 in what appears to be a poison gas attack at a rebel stronghold north of Damascus. Rebel forces say more than 1,000 died.
House Speaker John Boehner sent a letter to President Obama seeking answers to 14 questions regarding U. S. military intervention in Syria but the speaker did not seek a formal authorization vote from Congress.
The British Parliament is to vote today on authorizing force. The House of Commons measure says the approval should come only after the U. N. has determined who was responsible for the attack. Assad’s regime denies blame.
U. N. weapons inspectors are continuing their investigation, but the U. N.’ s envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, said evidence suggested a chemical “substance” was used during the alleged attack.