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President Obama today said the U.S. was conducting a “very vigorous investigation” into the use of chemical weapons in Syria and reiterated that the use of such agents would be a “game changer.”
“We cannot stand by and permit the systematic use of weapons like chemical weapons on civilian populations,” the president told reporters in his first public remarks since the administration revealed Thursday that the Syrian government has likely used chemical weapons against its own people.
(Image Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
“I meant what I’d said, and I will repeat that it’s, obviously, horrific as it is when mortars are being fired on civilians and people are being indiscriminately killed. To use potential weapons of mass destruction on civilian populations crosses another line with respect to international norms and international law. And that is going to be a game changer,” he said.
The president stressed that more concrete evidence was needed to determine if the Assad regime had crossed his “red line.”
“These are preliminary assessments; they’re based on our intelligence gathering. We have varying degrees of confidence about the actual use, but there are a range of questions around how, when, where these weapons may have been used,” he told reporters in the Oval Office where he was meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan.
“We have to act prudently. We have to make these assessments deliberately,” Obama said.
The president made clear this was not something that would be solved overnight. “This is not an on or off switch. This is an ongoing challenge that all of us have to be concerned about,” he said.
“We’re going to be consulting with our partners in the region as well as the international community and the United Nations to make sure that we are investigating this as effectively and as quickly as we can,” he said.
Take your time with this one. Reports are circulating the ‘rebels’ are spreading some of this chemical to frame the Syrian government. We’re dealing with a bunch of snakes.
Posted by: Bob | April 26, 2013, 4:56 pm 4:56 pm
Reports are circulating the ‘rebels’ are spreading some of this chemical to frame the Syrian government.——————–If I was the rebels , it’s exactly what I would do , especially since Obama has already made the “red line” statement . All’s fair in love and war .
Posted by: davem | April 26, 2013, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm
Here comes the WMD justification for getting into another war. Only you won’t be able to blame Bush this time.
Posted by: wantingbalance | April 26, 2013, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
We have no iron in this fire.
Posted by: john the electrician | April 26, 2013, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Here comes the WMD justification for getting into another war. Only you won’t be able to blame Bush this time.
Posted by: wantingbalance | April 26, 2013, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
I think Obama will take a more measured approach. He already has.
Posted by: Ruby | April 26, 2013, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
not that it matters but obama needs to say no to helping syria or anyone else in the middle east.let isreal nuke them all.
Posted by: catman | April 26, 2013, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
Obama is carefully checking this one out because he does not want to be charged with the same “crime” as the insidious WMD argument for Iraq. I support him on this avenue … because it is entirely likely the rebels may be culpable in this latest round of accusations. A saying I live by …. “Beware the motivation of the source.”
Posted by: Bensky | April 26, 2013, 6:47 pm 6:47 pm
Leave it alone Barry, it’s NONE of our business!
Posted by: Gene | April 26, 2013, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
I think Obama will take a more measured approach. He already has.
Posted by: Ruby | April 26, 2013, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Yeah, like the illegal Libyan invasion where we had no national interests and resulted in the deaths of numerous innocent civilians by drone and the first murder of a U.S. ambassador in 30 years.
Posted by: Donna | April 26, 2013, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
What about the depleted uranium shell casings the US uses? What about all the tumors from Agent Orange?
Posted by: David Schneider | April 26, 2013, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
“Yeah, like the illegal Libyan invasion where we had no national interests and resulted in the deaths of numerous innocent civilians by drone and the first murder of a U.S. ambassador in 30 years.”
I don’t know what splinter reality you are living in, but in this particular bit of the space-time continuum there was no invasion of Libya by the US. Here, it was a NATO action, in which the US participated. You see, we have treaties which gives us certain obligations. And as a responsible adult, I’m sure you understand why living up to your obligations is important.
Of course, I may be expecting too much of you.
Posted by: AmericaThePitiful | April 26, 2013, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm
Obama understand the world no longer believe blindly in what we say, The world no longer trust us after our last President “Bush” flat out lied to the world on WMD in Iraq even the American Public will have a hard time believing anything from Washington, If it was North Korea that is another story and we have a good idea we have to turn them into rubble field it is only a matter of time until this happens Now Syria we may not like what we are seeing going on but some of the groups again are not all that friendly towards Americans in general and to sale a bill of goods to the American Public will be a hard sell to do The Public is not ready or willing to see us get into another middle east War, We would more then likely support another to go in and do the dirty work such as Israel if they go into Iran As for American troops to be on the ground I can’t see that happen anytime soon.
Posted by: Scott | April 26, 2013, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
A jury in South Bend, Indiana has found that fraud put President
Obama and Hillary Clinton on the presidential primary ballot in Indiana
in the 2008 election. Two Democratic political operatives were convicted
Thursday night in the illegal scheme after only three hours of
deliberations. They were found guilty on all counts.
Former longtime St. Joseph County Democratic party Chairman Butch
Morgan Jr. was found guilty of felony conspiracy counts to commit
petition fraud and forgery, and former county Board of Elections worker
Dustin Blythe was found guilty of felony forgery counts and falsely
making a petition, after being accused of faking petitions that enabled
Obama, then an Illinois Senator, to get on the presidential primary
ballot for his first run for the White House.
Morgan was accused of being the mastermind behind the plot.
According to testimony from two former Board of Election officials
who pled guilty, Morgan ordered Democratic officials and workers to fake
the names and signatures that Obama and Clinton needed to qualify for
the presidential race. Blythe, then a Board of Elections employee and
Democratic Party volunteer, was accused of forging multiple pages of the
Obama petitions.
Why is this news not on ABC? Is ABC paid off by Obama?
Posted by: Wade | April 26, 2013, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm
I think Obama will take a more measured approach. He already has.
Posted by: Ruby | April 26, 2013, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Yeah, like the illegal Libyan invasion where we had no national interests and resulted in the deaths of numerous innocent civilians
Posted by: Donna | April 26, 2013, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
That was a U.N. sanctioned, joint NATO operation. Not a single American boot hit the ground; not a single u.s. combatant killed. Very different from Iraq – which was illegal, saw thousands of Americans die and tens of thousands of Iraqis.
Posted by: Ruby | April 26, 2013, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
DAVID SCHNEIDER: “What about the depleted uranium shell casings the US uses?” – - – Do you really mean the depleted uranium SABOT slugs? The shell casings are typically made of brass.
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 26, 2013, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
Once again Obama got his foot stuck in his mouth. They called your bluff Mr. President, what this! Another apology tour!
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
Once again Obama got his foot stuck in his mouth.
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
Not at all. Take your time with this one. Reports are circulating the ‘rebels’ are spreading some of this chemical to frame the Syrian government. We’re dealing with a bunch of snakes.
Posted by: Bob | April 26, 2013, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
If Obama keeps drawing red lines he’s going to run out of paint!
Maybe he should have not made threats he can’t back-up!
He makes the U.S. look weak and like a paper tiger that will in time cause are real war to break out. Apologies haven’t made us any safer Mr. President!
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
you can bet both sides are using everything they can get their hands on…..But giving Money and supplies to the Al Qaeda backed rebels..will only result in more terrorism here, they WILL use it against us…Think long and hard before getting into this quagmire on either side
Posted by: Yep I said that | April 26, 2013, 9:34 pm 9:34 pm
BK RIDER II: “Another apology tour!” – - – What apology tour? Please provide one single shred of evidence that convicningly and RATIONALLY demonstrates that he ever did that first so-called apology tour in the first place. In other words, PROVE any validity of any kind to this laughable trite conservative attack by quoting something the President said during that tour and then give us a rational explanation for exactly how any of his comments reasonably constitute an apology. Since I have never seen or heard any such evidence I won’t hold my breath that you can provide any to support this ludicrous conservative/Republican criticism.
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 26, 2013, 9:35 pm 9:35 pm
BK RIDER II: “Maybe he should have not made threats he can’t back-up!” – - – And he cannot back it up because???
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 26, 2013, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
YEP I SAID THAT: “But giving Money and supplies to the Al Qaeda backed rebels..will only result in more terrorism here, they WILL use it against us.” – - – Except that Al Qaeda does not back ALL of the rebel groups.
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 26, 2013, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
If Obama keeps drawing red lines he’s going to run out of paint!
Maybe he should have not made threats he can’t back-up!
He makes the U.S. look weak and like a paper tiger that will in time cause a real war to break out. Apologies haven’t made us any safer Mr. President!
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
BK RIDER II: “Apologies haven’t made us any safer Mr. President!” – - – Again, WHAT apologies? EXACTLY? Please quote any of these so-called apologies and give us a cogent explanation for exactly how the quote (preferably in its FULL CONTEXT) rationally constitutes an apology.
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 26, 2013, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
Obama said it was a game changer. Did he mean change from basket ball to golf?
Obama is such a embarrassment!
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
Saudi Arabia wants Syria taken out, and our puppet Obama is going to do it for them. The wmd is a ruse. Obama is a traitorous little lying dog.
Posted by: bunnysaysitall | April 26, 2013, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
Thank God we don’t have someone with low intelligence (like you) as president.
Take your time with this one. Reports are circulating the ‘rebels’ are spreading some of this chemical to frame the Syrian government. We’re dealing with a bunch of snakes.
Posted by: Bob | April 26, 2013, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
BUNYSAYSITALL: “The wmd is a ruse.” – - – And you KNOW that how, EXACTLY??? As in, EVIDENCE???
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 26, 2013, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
Obama said it was a game changer. Did he mean change from basket ball to golf?
Obama is such a embarrassment! Maybe he should just apologize again!
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
Posted by: BK RIDER II | April 26, 2013, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
Thank God we don’t have someone with low intelligence (like you) as president.
Take your time with this one. Reports are circulating the ‘rebels’ are spreading some of this chemical to frame the Syrian government. We’re dealing with a bunch of snakes.
Posted by: bob | April 26, 2013, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
I am concerned about the people of Syria and all the instability in the mid-east but we can’t afford another war. Let the UN and NATO do whatever they want to do as long as we stay out of it. We need to concentrate on our problems here at home. We are so far in debt we’ll never get out. Our military personnel are worn out. Our borders are wide open. Our children are horribly undereducated. Our infrastructure is falling apart.
Let the Syrians, Jordanians, Israelis and everyone else do as they will. They’ve been killing each other at a fairly steady pace since the beginning of recorded history and before. They’re not going to stop.
Posted by: oonogil | April 27, 2013, 12:09 am 12:09 am
Why, of course we are dealing with a bunch of snakes, Bob.
Aside from that it does not help much if we have a president who just loves to hear himself talk.
Posted by: Lela | April 27, 2013, 12:16 am 12:16 am
Posted by: Lela | April 27, 2013, 12:16 am 12:16 am
The President expresses himself very clearly, but he’s also smart enough to know we should have very solid concrete evidence. Too bad Bush hadn’t done the same with Iraq. I’m glad to have a president who can both talk and think clearly.
Posted by: Bob | April 27, 2013, 12:48 am 12:48 am
Here comes the WMD justification for getting into another war. Only you won’t be able to blame Bush this time.
Posted by: wantingbalance | April 26, 2013, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
I think Obama will take a more measured approach. He already has.
Posted by: Ruby | April 26, 2013, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
He does not need to MAKE ANY approach. PERIOD. Stay the hell out!
Posted by: dbase1986 | April 27, 2013, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Excuse me, but just HOW exactly would the rebels be getting a hold of this stuff? And using it against the people they are fighting WITH?
Posted by: ljg | April 27, 2013, 10:18 am 10:18 am
Obama says, ““We cannot stand by and permit the systematic use of weapons like chemical weapons on civilian populations,”. Ummmm…. yes we can. We have no dog in this fight, Mr. Obama. Let those humanitarian countries (like France, Russia, and China.. heh heh) deal with this. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!!! Don’t spend one more dime of our money on this part of the world.
Posted by: Spitting into the Wind | April 27, 2013, 10:27 am 10:27 am
Leave Assad alone, do we want another Iraq, where who we put in are worse than Saddam who we took out? Do you really think Saddam would of stood for the weekly bombing in Iraq that keep doing away with opposition, those countries always have rebels and opposition, leave them alone.
Posted by: ableme11110 | April 27, 2013, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Who cares if President Anti-Lincoln said it is a game changer.
It doesn’t matter if he loses face because he has no respect already.
The military knows Barry can’t prosecute a war effectively.
The way he tied the soldiers hands with his silly rules of engagement in Vietnamistan the Sequel™ is sinful.
Just stay out of Syria and let it play out on it’s own.
Posted by: Noz | April 27, 2013, 10:46 am 10:46 am
BK RIDER II: “Maybe he should just apologize again!” – - – When and how did he ever apologize during his so-called apology tour? Please provide one shred of evidence to support the conservative/Republican fantasy contending that he did an apology tour. Please QUOTE the President – as in quoting distortions and fabrications from conservative propagandists (i.e. professional liars) does not count – during that tour and then provide a RATIONAL explanation for how his comment (preferably not distorted by cherry picking a few words totally out of context) reasonably constitutes an apology.
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 27, 2013, 10:54 am 10:54 am
All of these clueless ‘stay out of it’ conservatives really don’t get it. Their reactive hatered for the President blinds them to seeing the potential consequences for us and the rest of the world if Assad is able to use chemical weapons – OR GIVE THEM TO TERRORIST GROUPS – without any negative consequences. How much easier would Assad going consquence free make it for Iran to use them or give them to terrorists? How much easier would Assad going consequence free make it for North Korea or any other hostile group/regime to use them or give them to terrorists? If regimes hostile to us percieve Assad suffering ZERO negative consequences then they wil have much less reason to fear suffering negative consequences themselves. And if we are not involved in some meaningful way when Assad finally goes down exactly who is going to provide the security and control for Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons to ensure TERRORIST GROUPS can’t get access to them? What, are we supposed to rely on the good will of the Al Qaeda backed rebel groups to not take any of those weapons to use them on us? Really? Stop hitting your partisan koolaid bongs.
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 27, 2013, 11:08 am 11:08 am
“All of these clueless ‘stay out of it’ conservatives really don’t get it.” – BK Burger
Wrong BK.
We just understand that President Anti-Lincoln is not a capable CIC.
Thus we need to stay out of Syria regardless of the consequences you talked about.
Posted by: Noz | April 27, 2013, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
He’ll just wait it out and hope it goes away or punt to the UN…no country in the world has any respect for what he says.
Posted by: Freedom | April 27, 2013, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
President O’Bama needs to get very busy with Syria… The Chemical and Biological Weapons that Syria has stock piled could make 09-11 look like a neighborhood gang fight. If those weapons fall into the wrong hands the death and carnage could be unbelievable… Just think what would happen if a terrorist fired a mortar containing Chemical or Biological Agents into a College Football Stadium ??? We could easily have 50,000 people dead within minutes… The ONLY way is to go in and get them and destroy them on Syrian land. I don’t want to see that nasty stuff moved around or brought to the U.S.
Posted by: This has the potential to be way worse than 9-11 | April 27, 2013, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
NOZ: “Thus we need to stay out of Syria regardless of the consequences you talked about.” – - – ROFLMAO So which American city would you like to see Al Queda hit with chemical weapons first?
Posted by: B-K KNIGHTRIDER | April 27, 2013, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Where did these chemical weapons come from?
Posted by: Duke | April 28, 2013, 9:02 am 9:02 am