Leon Panetta: US military planning for greater role in Syria conflict
| Washington
The Pentagon is 鈥渞eviewing and planning for a range of additional measures that may be necessary to protect the Syrian people,鈥� Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday, with top US military planners using the recent US intervention in Libya as a potential template for action.
In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Mr. Panetta said the violence in Syria has been 鈥渂rutal and devastating,鈥� putting the Syrian people 鈥渋n a desperate鈥� situation.
Iran is helping to prop up Syrian strongmen, Panetta contended, supporting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 鈥渨ith material, financial, and technical assistance.鈥� That鈥檚 because 鈥渘o other country stands to lose more than Iran from the eventual fall of the Assad regime,鈥� he added.
For now, the US is in the process of sending 鈥渘onlethal鈥� aid, including communications and medical equipment, to the civilian-led opposition in Syria. The Pentagon is also providing humanitarian relief to the tune of $25 million.
These measures are putting pressure on the Assad regime, Panetta argued. He acknowledged, however, that more may need to be done.
鈥淭here are legitimate questions鈥� about what steps are needed to bring an end to the Assad regime, he said, 鈥渨ith some arguing for an approach similar to the one we took in Libya.鈥� 聽
Indeed, he said, the US intervention in Libya is 鈥渉elping to inform the approach of the United States to Syria."聽
That must include international consensus, clear regional support from the Arab world, and 鈥渁 clear legal basis鈥� for any US military action, Panetta said.聽
Should these be found, the Pentagon will 鈥渙ffer substantial US contributions where we can bring unique resources to bear.鈥�
For the time being, 鈥渟trong sanctions鈥� are 鈥減utting Assad under greater pressure than ever before,鈥� Panetta told lawmakers.聽Any US actions going forward 鈥渕ust keep all options on the table, while recognizing the limitations of military force."
That said, Assad has to go, Panetta warned. 鈥淢ake no mistake 鈥� one way or another, this regime ultimately will meet its end.鈥�
