President Barack Obama met with top national security advisers Saturday morning to discuss the deadly chemical attacks in Syria this week. Military action is among one of the possible responses.
According to FOX News, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel suggested that the US was moving naval forces closer to Syria in the case that Obama makes the decision to proceed with a military strike. He stated, "The Defense Department has a responsibility to provide the president with options for contingencies, and that requires positioning our forces, positioning our assets, to be able to carry out different options—whatever options the president might choose."
United Nations (UN) Secretary Ban Ki-moon sent UN disarmament chief Angela Kane to lead the investigation into whether or not Syria used chemical weapons, BBC writes. Obama and his officials will then wait for confirmation that chemical warfare was indeed used before they either take military action, or decide to proceed with another response. Obama made it clear last year that if Syria were to use chemical weapons, it would cross a “red line” and force a tough response from the US.