The Obama administration has determined that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons in its civil war, Sen. John McCain announced today.
President Obama has warned that if Syria President Bashar al-Assad’s regime resorts to chemical warfare, it would cross a “red line” and trigger an unspecified response from the United States.
“It’s pretty obvious that red line has been crossed,” McCain (R-Ariz.) told reporters at the Capitol.
He held a letter that he said was from Obama which states that the administration had determined with varying degrees of confidence that Syria had used sarin gas against its people, describing the use of the nerve gas as “limited.”
The Syrian government and rebels each accused the other of launching a chemical attack last month.
McCain, who has long argued for a more active US role in the more than 2-year-old upheaval in Syria, called for immediate action.
He proposed creating a refugee safe haven in neighboring countries, establishment of a no-fly zone over Syria and sending more arms to Syrian resistance fighters.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called for the US to immediately “secure the chemical weapons before they fall into the wrong hands.”
McCain and Graham warned that the US must get involved now to prevent Syria from falling under the control of al-Qaeda fighters, who are competing with the resistance fighters to topple al-Assad’s regime. More than 6,000 al Qaeda fighters are believed to be in Syria, said Graham.
A White House National Security Council official cautioned against a rush to judgement, stressing that more tests and intelligence gathering is needed.
“Precisely because the President takes this issue so seriously, we have an obligation to fully investigate any and all evidence of chemical weapons use within Syria. That is why we are currently pressing for a comprehensive United Nations investigation that can credibly evaluate the evidence and establish what took place,” said the official.
“Given the stakes involved, and what we have learned from our own recent experience, intelligence assessments alone are not sufficient – only credible and corroborated facts that provide us with some degree of certainty will guide our decision-making, and strengthen our leadership of the international community,” said the official.
smiller@nypost.com