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Consulate Supported Claim of Syria Gas Attack, Report Says Consulate Supported Claim of Syria Gas Attack, Report Says
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — A State Department cable asserted that Syrian forces may have used poison gas in December, according to a report by Foreignpolicy.com on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — A State Department cable asserted that Syrian forces might have used poison gas in December, according to a report by Foreignpolicy.com on Tuesday.
The classified cable was sent by the United States consul general in Istanbul, according to the Web site, and discussed a consulate investigation into allegations that chemical weapons were used in the city of Homs on Dec. 23. The classified cable was sent by the United States consul general in Istanbul, according to the Web site, and it discussed a consulate investigation into allegations that chemical weapons were used in the city of Homs on Dec. 23.
A White House statement on Tuesday evening discounted the possibility that poison gas had been used. But White House and State Department officials declined to comment directly on the cable. Nor did they rule out that some form of chemical agent may have been used.A White House statement on Tuesday evening discounted the possibility that poison gas had been used. But White House and State Department officials declined to comment directly on the cable. Nor did they rule out that some form of chemical agent may have been used.
“The reporting we have seen from media sources regarding alleged chemical weapons incidents in Syria has not been consistent with what we believe to be true about the Syrian chemical weapons program,” the White House statement said.“The reporting we have seen from media sources regarding alleged chemical weapons incidents in Syria has not been consistent with what we believe to be true about the Syrian chemical weapons program,” the White House statement said.
Reports of some kind of attack surfaced on Al Jazeera and in videos circulated by opposition activists, but details have been sketchy, including about what kind of substance may have caused the injuries, some of them fatal, that were reported. Reports of some kind of attack surfaced on Al Jazeera and in videos circulated by opposition activists, but details have been sketchy about matters like what kind of substance might have caused the injuries, some of them fatal, that were reported.
President Obama has said the use of chemical weapons by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad would cross an American “red line,” and possibly set off American military intervention. President Obama has said the use of chemical weapons by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad would cross a “red line” and possibly set off American military intervention.
“The president was very clear when he said that if the Assad regime makes the tragic mistake of using chemical weapons, or fails to meet its obligation to secure them, the regime will be held accountable,” the White House statement said.“The president was very clear when he said that if the Assad regime makes the tragic mistake of using chemical weapons, or fails to meet its obligation to secure them, the regime will be held accountable,” the White House statement said.
Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said this month that the American military was not able to prevent a chemical weapons attack, but he left open the possibility that the United States might respond militarily.Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said this month that the American military was not able to prevent a chemical weapons attack, but he left open the possibility that the United States might respond militarily.
“The act of preventing the use of chemical weapons would be almost unachievable,” General Dempsey said. “I think that Syria must understand by now that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable. And to that extent, it provides a deterrent value. But preventing it, if they decide to use it, I think we would be reacting.”“The act of preventing the use of chemical weapons would be almost unachievable,” General Dempsey said. “I think that Syria must understand by now that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable. And to that extent, it provides a deterrent value. But preventing it, if they decide to use it, I think we would be reacting.”
According to the Foreign Policy Web site, the American investigation into the allegations of chemical weapons use drew on interviews with Syrian defectors, doctors and activists.According to the Foreign Policy Web site, the American investigation into the allegations of chemical weapons use drew on interviews with Syrian defectors, doctors and activists.