Washington Rattles Its Sabers

While the U.N. chemical weapons experts, because of security concerns, delayed their investigation of the charges that Syria has used poison gas, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the U.S. had proof the Assad regime had indeed done so. The government in Damascus blamed the rebels for the delay in the investigation, saying they could not agree on who would be responsible for ensuring the safety of the inspectors. Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallim rejected Kerry’s pointed criticisms that Damascus was delaying in order to hide evidence and demanded immediate proof of that allegation.

Meanwhile, plans for military intervention are ongoing in Washington and London. Al-Muallim announced that Syria would defend itself with military resources that would surprise the world, adding that engaging Syria militarily was no insignificant matter. On Tuesday, The Washington Post said that an attack lasting “no more than two days” was under review. The New York Times reported such an attack would incorporate cruise missiles launched from U.S. Navy warships in the Mediterranean or from long-range bombers and that would probably target military installations other than Syrian chemical weapons depots. The Athens-based Greek newspaper Kathimerini announced that the United States had requested use of two bases in southern Greece and on Crete. These were previously used by U.S. warplanes during the intervention in Libya.

The New York Times also reported there was little hope of getting a U.N. mandate supporting the intervention since Russia, which has veto power over any such U.N. action, is allied with the Syrian regime. President Obama already announced on CNN the possibility of an unsanctioned attack on another nation. Moscow responded with an explicit warning against such a military incursion and sharply criticized America’s rejection of a jointly planned Syrian peace conference. Russia says it fears renewed suffering in Syria and catastrophic results for other nations in the Middle East and North Africa. Despite that, Great Britain and Turkey have signaled their willingness to support military action, even absent any U.N. mandate. The British parliament plans a special session for Thursday to discuss reactions to the use of poison gas in Syria. It’s also expected that President Obama will seek congressional approval and will also deliver a speech to the world community prior to any attack.

Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to keep her options open on a decision for any German participation, but in Berlin the prevailing mood concerning a military engagement is basically one of skepticism.