Obama: Chemical weapons attack in Syria would be "game changer" - but I want the "facts"

President Obama speaks during a joint press conference with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on March 20, 2013. / MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

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Obama: If Syria used chemical weapons, it's a "game changer"

Amid ongoing debate over an alleged chemical weapons attack out of Syria yesterday, President Obama is doubling down on his assertion that such an attack would be considered a "game changer" for his administration - but the president also emphasized the importance of finding out "precisely whether or not this red line was crossed" before making a decision that could lead to an act of war.

Mr. Obama, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Israel, said the White House intends to "investigate thoroughly, exactly what happened."

"In Syria right now you've got a war zone. You have information that's filtered out, but we have to make sure that we know exactly what happened, what was the nature of the incident, what can we document and what can we prove," he said. In what could be read as a veiled reference to the non-existent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq, which the Bush administration used as justification for an invasion in the country, Mr. Obama added: "I think having the facts before you act is very important."

In a development that has cast a shadow over his visit to Israel, the Syrian government yesterday accused Syrian rebels of firing a chemical weapon in the north of the country, killing at least 25 people in the Aleppo province. But rebels denied the report, instead accusing regime forces of firing the chemical weapon on a long-range missile.

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Neither of those allegations have been verified, but Mr. Obama said today he was "deeply skeptical of any claim" that the opposition had "used chemical weapons."

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Obama: Not "a lot of daylight" between U.S. and Israel on Iran

"Once we establish the facts I have made clear that the use of chemical weapons is a game changer," Mr. Obama said. "But I do think that when you start seeing weapons that can cause potential devastation and mass casualties and you let that genie out of the bottle then you are looking potentially at even more horrific scenes... The international community has to act on that. " He declined to say what that action might look like if it turns out chemical weapons were, in fact, used.

The president, whose trip to Israel has been in large part an effort to rebuild a recently-tense relationship with Netanyahu, reaffirmed U.S. commitment to Israel, and announced new talks for a ten-year process for ensuring continued military assistance to military.

"I think this is very significant," said Netanyahu, reiterating the point later on in the press conference.

Both leaders spoke of a common vision for preventing Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal, and dismissed the idea that the two countries have any "daylight" on the subject.

"Our intelligence cooperation on this issue, consultation between our militaries and our intelligence, is unprecedented. And there is not a lot of light - a lot of daylight between our countries' assessments in terms of where Iran is right now," Mr. Obama said, on the subject of Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.

The president stressed, as he has many times in the past, that he would prefer to resolve the issue with Iran diplomatically but that he would not hesitate to go beyond that if necessary. Netanyahu said he was "absolutely convinced" Mr. Obama was sincere in that statement.

"I'm absolutely convinced that the president is determined to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons," he said.

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Obama defends record on Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations

The president also expressed an ongoing commitment to furthering the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but acknowledged the difficulties of the problem at hand, and said his goal right now is to "make sure that the United States is a positive force in trying to create" opportunities for making progress.

In his first trip to the region as president, Mr. Obama went to Israel mindful of recent tensions with Netanyahu: Mr. Obama sparred frequently with the Israeli president during his first term, and Netanyahu was believed to back Mr. Obama's Republican rival, Mitt Romney, in the 2012 election; meanwhile, the president paid no lip service to Israel with his nomination of Chuck Hagel to be defense secretary, given Hagel's controversial past statements about Hezbollah, Iran, and pro-Israel lobbies.

Still, the two appeared to have made some headway - at least personally - by the end of their meeting: In remarks opening the press conference, both presidents ribbed each other for being less attractive than their respective wives, a telltale sign of affection on the president's part.

[RE_Mant]

This is despicable reporting. The rebels have faked such things for two years in hopes the American ppl would bite, and what the number of aircraft flown against them has to do with it I have no idea. The US North didn't ask the South why it was rebelling, created a draft, printed illegal paper money and incarcerated those who objected to keep the Union together, costing hundreds of thousands of lives, so why should they expect the Syria's to behave any better? If Mr Martin or anyone in the CBS hierarchy would like to find out what really happened I suggest they go there, like the Germans and the UK Guardian, who recently reported the US has been surreptitiously training rebel forces in Jordan for months, and by the way, also recently reported the US and GB were fully aware Saddam had no WMD. And the president's statement about Iran is nugatory, because they have no intention of actually building one, just acquiring the capability to, which of course, Netanyahu, pandering to the fundamentalists, who denigrate women every bit as much as the Muslims we accuse of it, will have none of either.

[oldoc44]

Here we go again! Sounds a lot like the old WMD stuff that got us into this stuff over in this part of the world. Just as long as we all remember that these Islamic nations have been having these endless internal skirmishes over tribal and religious issues for centuries and considering how successful western influences have been thus far (Iraq?), we need to be very circumspect about jumping in here. These folks basically hate us and western culture so we're interlopers at very best.

[pugster]

The FSA terrorists are using chemical weapons. Why doesn't Obama attack them? Oh wait, these Al Qaeda terrorists are sponsored by America.

[travelers345]

Chemical weapons are no worse than the bombs the U.S. military drops on peoples' heads that disembowel and tear their limbs off.

[webgone]

Let us say I would have to take a test in town....

1.I have to choose from four banks, to trust my money in...ABCD
the Syra Bank, the Isra Bank, the Palsa Bank, the Gohla Bank ?
I would choose
NONE

2.I had four Kids at home raising, to see my justification for doing so.
Their names are little Syra, Isra, Palsa and Gohla.
The state found most wrong doing on my part ?
YES

3.I hate my neigbors and would I get sponsered for to change my mind ?
NONE

4.Would we sent any money to those in mental hospitals or sent them weapons?
NONE

Very simple questions to show I am ok to live in my home town.

Oh, please somebody help me, if I had to move to MID EAST,
it does not apply, am I confused ?

[iam4honesty]

Mr. Obama added: "I think having the facts before you act is very important."
*******************

This is the way a President SHOULD conduct world affairs.

[MidWestSense]

How about getting Israel to come clean on its nuclear weapons. Many see bias when US and Israel issue threats to Iran.

[tb91006]

How about Russia and China instead loony lib.

[earth56]

Did you hear of Israel threatening anyone with annihilation like your buddy's in Iran ?

Bias ?

I guess seeing Hitler for who he was is being biased.

Thanks again Chucklehead.

[valanis]

oooohhh scary, we're going to mad at them too, just like Iran. No huevos!!

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
Barack Obama reaffirmed his country's support for Israel, and not particularly surprisingly, the love story between the two countries is known as the reasons. This trip was especially under the sign of recognition because of the role played by Israel for the re-election of Barack Obama.
Concerning the file of Middle East and the expectations of the Palestinian people, Obama will act in continuity, ie, adopt (Republican policy of his predecessor), unable to change anything. Currently the U.S. wants to keep the situation as it is.
Concerning Syria, are statements and analyzes, which have no effect on the determination of Bashar, which is killing again and again.
In short, Barack Obama is a Democrat who acts like a Republican.
"au revoir"

[earth56]

au revoir"

and how does one make peace with someone who doesn't recognize you and wants you dead ?

Care to give me an example in world history where one has done that ?

"Revardeche "