Obama 'sure' of Damascus’ use of chemical weapons, but unsure of what action to take
Washington, Aug 29, 2013: Barack Obama is certain that the Syrian government has
used chemical weapons against the population of Ghouta (Damascus outskirts) . But
it is still not sure what action to take.
Speaking to PBS (Public Broadcasting
Service ) , the U.S. president said that he fears a possible chemical attack against
his country and that it is important to ensure that " We do have to make sure that
when countries break international norms on weapons like chemical weapons that could
threaten us, that they are held accountable. "
Obama is the latest high profile
figure to express his certainty of Damascus' responsibility in the chemical weapons
attack. Previously Joe Biden, Vice President , and John Kerry, Secretary of State
had spoken out. But unlike these two, who called for military intervention, the U.S.
president is more cautious .
Analysts attribute this to the pacifist attitude
on which Obama was elected (the " anti-Bush " , who declared war on Afghanistan and
Iraq ), but especially American public opinion that is 60% contrary to any military
involvement even if Damascus is proven responsible .
Obama said he did not
believe that the rebels have chemical weapons, but several blogs in the U.S. have
posted links to videos showing soldiers of the Free Syrian Army firing chemical weapons
on a Syrian village and storing chemical weapons of Saudi origin .
A UN Security
Council convened last night ended with a stalemate. Britain wanted to pass a resolution
on Syria to protect civilians, on the model of what happened to Libya. But Russia
and China's opposition blocked the proposal.
Today, the China Daily published
an editorial in which they accuse the United States and its allies of acting like
"judge, jury and executioner ." "Any military intervention in Syria - warned the newspaper
- would have serious consequences on regional security and would violate international
norms". Such a move, it adds, "will only to exacerbate the crisis and could have unforeseen
and unpleasant consequences."
In Britain the intervention of Prime Minister
David Cameron has been slowed by the parliament which, before any move , demands to
see the results of the UN inquiry into the use of chemical weapons.
UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki- moon said that the team of experts who are gathering evidence on the possible
chemical attack "still needs four days."