The latest reports of an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds in Syria has sparked a mounting investigation by United Nations (U.N.) officials. Amid renewed pressure, the United States and its allies continue to weigh their options on how best to respond. Last week, France called for a “reaction of force.”
“What we’ve seen indicates that this is clearly a big event of grave concern,” President Obama told CNN on Friday.
The Syrian government has continued to deny the use of any such weapons. On Friday Russia urged the government to cooperate with U.N. investigators’ search for evidence of chemical warfare.
President Obama has warned that any Syrian attempt to move or use chemical weapons would constitute crossing a “red line,” but deliberations within the Obama administration over how to respond are at a stalemate.Â
Lara Setrakian is a journalist and founder of Syria Deeply. She joins The Takeaway to discuss the latest attacks and the possible response to come from the United States and its allies. P.J. Crowley provides a sense of the military and non-military options being considered in Washington, D.C. Crowley is the former Department of State spokesperson and currently at George Washington University.
After Secretary of State John Kerry delivered remarks on Monday about the use of chemical weapons in Syria, The Takeaway spoke with Barry Pavel, the Vice President of the Scowcroft Center at the Atlantic Council, about the military options on the table.Â
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