Dempsey says US considering use of force in Syria

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's top military officer told a Senate panel Thursday the Obama administration is deliberating whether to use military power in Syria, where a civil war entering its third year has killed almost 93,000 people.

Amid an increasing clamor among President Bashir Assad's opposition for active U.S. involvement, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said during congressional testimony that he has provided President Barack Obama with options for the use of force. But he declined to detail those choices, saying "it would be inappropriate for me to try to influence the decision with me rendering an opinion in public about what kind of force we should use."

The remarks by the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman came after Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., asked him which approach in Syria would carry a greater risk: continued limited action on the part of Washington or more significant actions such as the establishment of a no-fly zone and arming the rebel forces with the weapons they need to stem the advance Assad's forces.

"Senator, I am in favor of building a moderate opposition and supporting it," Dempsey said. "The question whether to support it with direct kinetic strikes ... is a decision for our elected officials, not for the senior military leader of the nation."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/dempsey-says-us-considering-force-syria-145636712.html

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[jakeXT]

1. Desperation?

[heaven05]

2. hmmm

I seem to remember a no fly zone established in that region before. Hmmmmm, now just where was that?

[John2]

3. I already,

know what his opinion is and so do John McCain. he was against any military force because it wouldn't be like Libya or Iraq. You have advisors in the Obama Administration that is trying to push the President towards intervention. They are the people putting pressure on Obama. And if there is a catastrophe, they will place the blame on him too. He needs to show those advisors the door. If Hillary Clinton runs, they know they have a spot in her Administration after they throw him under the bus.

I'm hoping a more LIberal candidate jump in the ring against Clinton or Biden. Liberal organizations, need to start recruiting a bench to challenge these old stalwarts, and give the American people more choices in the Democratic Party. I'm really tired of the same old stuff, especially with Foreign Policy. Even if they were to lose, it would make Clinton and Biden move more towards the Left on issues. They just have not been threatened, with the exception of Obama when he ran more towards the Left of them. If Obama really wanted a Legacy, he would do something different and challenge the old establishment. There are new people and younger people in this country, that he can give a start, instead of these same old people dominating politics in this country. Liberals have been AWOL in Foreign Affairs.

[leveymg]

4. Slow motion suicide. Like watching this Admin. fall from a bridge in 1/10 time.

Shocking, grotesque, and no happy endings as the film moves toward the end of this scene. But, this is just the 2nd reel of this marathon horror film. Next, back to Iraq, and cut to Lebanon, before the finale - war with Iran, and somewhere there's going to be the inevitable plot twist where one or several of our regional "allies" blows back on us.

[azurnoir]

5. No just no with an added why and what the f**k for ?

what would our end game be?

[ColesCountyDem]

6. Just assuming that Assad were toppled in THIS civil war, what are we prepared to do...

Last edited Thu Jul 18, 2013, 05:52 PM - Edit history (1)

... in the SECOND Syrian civil war, the one that will inevitably and immediately follow?

Think carefully and choose wisely.

[ColesCountyDem]

10. Only TWO recs? Come on, folks! n/t

[Chef Eric]

7. We will be greeted as liberators! nt

[Brigid]

12. I think we've heard this one before too.

Yes, I know you were using

[dipsydoodle]

8. Kicked for attention

to lunacy.

[David__77]

9. OK, so he is pro-terrorist.

Noted. There is a big treason faction in DC.

[Ghost Dog]

11. Indeed.

[Brigid]

13. When are we going to stop expecting any place in the Middle East to be any thing but a hellhole?

The whole region has never been anything else.

[ronnie624]

14. Interesting.

The US government is responsible for ten times that number of deaths in Iraq.

The hypocrisy of the US narrative on its role in the world, knows no bounds.