Push for Military Action on Syria Appears to Slow

The drive for a quick military response
to reports of a chemical weapons attack
in Syria appears to be slowing, as
legislators in the United States and
Britain make clear they are in no hurry
to become involved in another Middle
East conflict.
At the same time, United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is
urging world powers to hold off on
possible military action until a U.N.
chemical weapons inspection team
completes its work in the country.
U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq on
Thursday said the team investigating the
August 21 attack near Damascus would
leave the country by Saturday morning.
While some will remain in Europe to
analyze their samples, Haq said U.N.
disarmament chief Angela Kane and
other inspectors will be in New York in
the coming days to brief Ban.
“They will have a large number of facts
at their disposal, they’ve collected
considerable amount of evidence -
evidence through samples, evidence
through witness interviews -- they can
construct from that a fact-based
narrative that can get at the key facts of
what happened,” he said.
Once laboratory results are in, the team
will issue a final report. Haq said, “It is
imperative that the work that the
investigation team does be seen by all
as fair, impartial and accurate.”
Also Thursday, Russia called a meeting
of the other permanent members of the
Security Council. Talks with Britain,
China, France and the United States
lasted about 45 minutes, but diplomats
did not brief reporters on what
transpired. On Wednesday, the group
met to discuss a resolution proposed by
Britain that would authorize “all
necessary measures” to protect Syrian
civilians.
Washington and its European allies have
made clear they think the government of
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is
responsible for the suspected chemical
attack, which killed hundreds of
civilians, and have said a military
response is needed.
The United States on Thursday sent a
fifth navy destroyer to the
Mediterranean; Britain is reinforcing its
military on Cyprus, and Israel is
bolstering its forces along the Syrian
border.
Opposition grows
Even as military assets take position,
the U.S. and its allies face growing
opposition, both at home and abroad, to
a strike against Syria.
In the U.S., more than 100 members of
Congress, including several from
Obama’s Democratic Party, signed a
letter demanding that the administration
consult with Congress before any
military action.
Congressman Scott Rigell, a Republican
who wrote the letter, told VOA
correspondent Cindy Saine that Obama
should adhere to U.S. law.
To follow the U.S. Constitution, he said,
if Obama wants to use force, “he does
need to call us into a joint session,
make the case before the American
people, allow us a reasonable amount
of time to deliberate the matter and then
to issue specific statutory authority prior
to the use of force.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron
lost a vital parliamentary vote on
Thursday night meant to pave the way
for Britain to join a military strike on
Syria, in a move that appeared to all but
rule out British involvement in such
action.
On Thursday, some lawmakers
questioned if British military action
would draw the country further into
Syria's civil war. Cameron argued that
failing to respond would send Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad a message
that he could use chemical weapons
with no fear of reprisal.
The British Defense Ministry said it has
sent additional fighter jets to Cyprus as
a precaution because of Middle East
tensions. The Defense Ministry said the
jets are not intended to be used in any
operation against Syria.
Security Council members China and
Russia have blocked previous attempts
to impose sanctions on Assad’s regime.
That has led to frustration for the U.S.
and its European allies.
On Wednesday, Deputy State
Department spokeswoman Marie Harf
said that despite Russian opposition to a
U.N. authorization of force in Syria,
Washington will take its own
“appropriate actions to respond in the
days ahead.”
The Syrian government denies having
any role in the alleged gas attacks.
State media quoted Assad Thursday as
saying his country will defend itself
against any aggression.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has
said his government and Russia will
work to prevent an attack on Syria, and
warned any assault could “bring great
costs” to the region.
Iran also has warned that any Western
action against Syria would result in the
“imminent destruction of Israel,” a U.S.
ally in the region.
Also Thursday, Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper said his government
supports Washington and its other allies
contemplating a military response to
Syria. He said, however, the Canadian
military would not take a role in any
attack.
Later on Thursday, Obama's top
national security advisers planned to
brief members of Congress about
intelligence on the gas attacks.
Obama says he has not decided on any
action, but vowed that those who break
international norms need to be held
accountable.
As diplomats debate, more Syrians are
expected to flee their country, which has
been embroiled in a two-year civil war.
The United Nations and aid groups
report new refugee flows to neighboring
countries: already more than two million
Syrians have fled, half of them children.

Samanthan Power Talks with British delegate Michael Tatham