Obama Rules Out US Troops in Syria

Local Editor

US President Barack Obama came close Friday to ruling out deploying US troops to Syria, saying he did not foresee a scenario in which that would be beneficial to the United States or Syria.

"As a general rule, I don't rule things out as commander-in-chief because circumstances change and you want to make sure that I always have the full power of the United States at our disposal to meet American national security interests," Obama said.

He further stated: "Having said that, I do not foresee a scenario in which boots on the ground in Syria -American boots on the ground in Syria - would not only be good for America but also would be good for Syria."

Speaking during a visit to Costa Rica, Obama said there was evidence that chemical weapons had been used in Syria, but that "we don't know when, where or how they were used."
"In terms of any additional steps that we take, it is going to be based on, number one the facts on the ground, number two it's going to be based on what's in the interest of the American people and our national security," Obama said.

"As president of the United States I'm going to make those decisions based on the best evidence and after careful consultation because when we rush into things, when we leap before we look, then not only do we pay a price but often times, we see unintended consequences on the ground."

In parallel, Obama said the United States is "not waiting."

"We are not standing by," he said, adding that "the United States has been the largest contributor of humanitarian aid and nonlethal aid to the opposition."

"We are actively engaged on a day-to-day basis to deal with this crisis to restore a Syria that is respectful of the rights and aspirations of the Syrian people," he further claimed.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org