CNN: US Updating Military Options in Syria

Local Editor

CNN reported Friday that the Joint Staff of the Pentagon and the US Central Command have updated potential military options for intervention in Syria that could see American forces - if ordered - doing everything from bombing Syrian airfields to flying large amounts of humanitarian aid to the region.

According to a senior US military official the decision came under pressure from Democrats and Republicans.

The channel further mentioned that the first public discussion of the updated options could come soon as War Secretary Chuck Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Joint Chiefs chairman, are scheduled to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee next week.

In this context, a military official emphasized the options are for planning and there is no indication President Barack Obama is about to order any military action.
A senior administration official confirmed that the national security staff of the White House has been briefed on the updated planning, but emphasized that it does not differ from what already has been looked at by the administration.
"We've been saying for quite some time now, we are constantly reviewing every possible option that could help end the violence and accelerate a political transition," the administration official told CNN.

Officials have declined to speak on the record because of the sensitivity of the situation.

CNN reported earlier this week that the White House had signed off on a new package of aid for Syrian rebels, according to US officials. The aid is expected to include body armor, night vision goggles and other military equipment.
In a March 21 letter, Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin, D-Michigan, and the panel's top Republican, John McCain of Arizona, asked Obama to consider "limited military options, that would require neither putting US troops on the ground nor acting unilaterally."
The senators asked the White House to consider ways to "the Syrian regime's air power" and destroy SCUD missile batteries, using precision airstrikes.
According to the Pentagon official, one idea might be to use cruise missiles, which would keep US pilots out of Syria airspace and would solve the problem of first bombing Syria's air defenses.

But the official noted aircraft and missile batteries are mobile, so it's unclear what air strikes could achieve. In addition, Syria already has turned to using its force of helicopter gunships.

However, the official made clear the US military would be extremely cautious about sending any manned aircraft into Syrian airspace.

Another option under review at the Pentagon is the use of military transport planes to carry additional large amounts of assistance or nonlethal aid into neighboring countries.
With regard to the idea of a no-fly zone using Patriots based in Turkey, they are a "defensive system that would have very little impact on Syrian air power when based outside the country. This would be no easy fix," the administration official said.

The military official said that overall, longstanding challenges to US military action remain, including the need for an international agreement from the United Nations or NATO to act, as well as the American view that any action should include other countries.

While the initial update of options in response to congressional concerns is complete, the military official said further updating is likely.

The number of any troops, equipment, and weapons as well as the risks are laid out in each case. However, if Obama were to issue an order on one of these options, the military would engage in additional planning and intelligence gathering in order to assign specific units.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org