warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Defense Sec. Hagel: 'We're Ready To Go' In Syria

Colin Hale |
August 27, 2013 | 9:51 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel/via Flickr Creative Commons
U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel/via Flickr Creative Commons
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the BBC in a lengthy interview on Tuesday that the United States was "ready" to strike Syria if President Obama chooses that option.

"We have moved assets in place to be able to fulfill and comply with whatever option the president wishes to take," Hagel said.

"The options are there, the United States Department of Defense is ready to carry out those options."

Hagel's statements follow Secretary of State John Kerry's statements on Monday that the U.S. believes "that chemical weapons were used in Syria." Kerry and Hagel have both stated that allies and NATO partners were consulted.

The White House has insisted that President Barack Obama has not made a final decision on how the U.S. will respond to the conflict in Syria. WH spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday that any action would be preceded by a release of a U.S. intelligence report.

That report could be released as early as Tuesday, according to CNN.

According to reports, the U.S. has also moved warships and assets into the region, including the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Watch Hagel's complete interview on the BBC here.

Reach Executive Producer Colin Hale here. Follow him on Twitter.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness