Back in August of 2012, President Obama established what he called a “red line” on action in Syria, which included the use of chemical weapons. At a press conference yesterday, Obama acknowledged that chemical weapons might have been used in Syria, although the nature of their use seems cloudy.
The President reiterated that the United States will not intervene in Syria unless there is clear evidence that chemical weapons have been used by the Assad regime. But, the President did affirm that the use of chemical weapons would be a game changer, although exactly what that means is unclear.
It could be argued that a red line has already been crossed. After all, 70,000 people have died in this conflict to date. Are we splitting hairs over the techniques used to kill people?
Shadi Hamid Director of Research at the Brookings Doha Center explores that question.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!