No.005 Editor:Yao Chun Sept. 5, 2013
No.005 Editor:Yao Chun Sept. 5, 2013
Following the release of a video that allegedly shows the after-effects of a chemical weapons attack in Syria on Aug. 21, the U.S. has been gearing up to conduct a limited strike on the Syrian government forces, which triggered great discussion and opposition in the international community.
Obama urges military action against Syria
U.S. President Barack Obama said on Saturday that he has decided to take military action against Syria but will first seek authorization from Congress.[Read More]
Obama said he was considering a "limited narrow act" in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, in remarks made before a meeting with three Baltic leaders at the White House.[Read More]
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has laid out evidence on last week’s alleged chemical weapons attack near Damascus. He says an intelligence report on the August the 21st attack shows the Syrian government was behind it.[Read More]
Protest against potential military action on Syria held in Jordan
Syrian Defense Minister Fahed al- Fraij said Thursday that the army will "decisively" respond to any form of foreign military action, the state-TV reported. The minister's remarks were made on a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hasan Dahqan, during which he accused " terrorists" of using chemical weapons on innocent civilians to obtain support from the superpowers and to cover their defeats.[Read More]
Syrian Foreign Ministry slammed on Friday the recent statements of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, saying Kerry used "fabricated" narratives circulated by armed rebels to frame the Syrian government regarding the chemical weapons use. [Read More]
UN Syria chemical weapons probe team to submit evidence to labs
The samples collected by UN inspectors from the site of the alleged Aug. 21 chemical weapons attacks in Syria were shipped from The Hague, the Netherlands, Monday and will reach their designated laboratories "within hours," said a UN spokesman. [Read More]
UN inspectors have conducted "a wide range of fact-finding activities" at a site outside the Syrian capital of Damascus, where alleged chemical weapons attacks killed hundreds of people, a UN spokesman said here Saturday.[Read More]
Activists in U.S. protest against military strike on Syria
Traditional U.S. allies, such as Britain, Canada and Germany, decided to sit out the military action. NATO is no show, and the Arab League unwilling to publicly endorse a strike, let alone participate. Only France and Turkey are willing to go along. In the United Nations, the United States is unlikely to get a Security Council authorization for use of force. Russia and China are both for political resolution. Russia has publicly doubted the validity of the evidence presented by the U.S. side, demanding that Washington provide proof rather than taking rash action.[Read More]
China keeps a close watch on the latest situation in Syria. Chinese side is firmly opposed to any use of chemical weapons in Syria and supports the UN's independent, objective, impartial and professional investigation there. A political solution is always the only realistic means to resolve the Syria issue. [Read More]
Obama faces unpalatable Syrian choices
As the United States is poised to strike Syria, experts warned Thursday that any direct intervention in the war-torn country could pose the risk of dragging Washington into a broader conflict it has so far tried to avoid. [Read More]
Ramping up U.S. involvement in the chaotic country could be messy, too, some U.S. experts said, adding that there is no guarantee that U.S. forces will locate the alleged chemical weapons. Moreover, innocents are likely to be caught in the crossfire, which will prompt critics to blast Washington. [Read More]
As Washington hastily beats the war drums to prepare an attack on Syria, which could take place any time soon, key rationales remain missing to justify the action.[Read More]
The current situation in Syria is at a tipping point. The choice lies between military intervention or peaceful resolution. President Obama must weigh his options carefully.