Pentagon Reviewing Options in Syria
Published at(WASHINGTON) — Aside from talking tough, the Obama administration hasn’t done much in the way of stopping the government crackdown in Syria that has cost over 6,000 lives during the past 11 months.
The rest of the international community has also been reluctant to get involved in Syria’s internal affairs despite evidence that President Bashar al-Assad is using whatever means possible to crush a rebellion that threatens his 11-year autocratic rule.
However, there are reports that the Pentagon, while obviously not preparing for any direct military action, is reviewing the capabilities it has in the region so that President Obama has options at his disposal should he decide to use them.
The White House is attempting to give diplomacy a chance to work but up to now, the United Nations has been fairly impotent in its actions to bring about a peaceful end to the crisis.
There has been some talk among Republican lawmakers, particularly from Sens. John McCain, (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C), about possibly arming al-Assad’s opponents but that proposal has received little enthusiasm from the White House.
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