America Ready to Take Action against Syria as Iran Warns of 'Harsh Consequences'

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: America is ready to take action against the Syrian regime and has "prepared options for all contingencies," as Western leaders summon their advisers to discuss how to handle the crisis.

Chuck Hagel, the American defence secretary, said the US was still assessing the evidence from Wednesday's chemical weapons attacks in Damascus, that are thought to have killed up to 1,300 people.

Four American warships have moved into the Mediterranean as President Barack Obama weighs up his options.

"President Obama has asked the defence department to prepare options for all contingencies. We have done that," said Mr Hagel, speaking in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur as part of a south[-]east Asia tour.

"Again, we are prepared to exercise whatever option, if he decides to employ one of those options." » | Harriet Alexander | Sunday, August 25, 2013

Special Report: After the Chemical Weapons Attack, Military Action against Syria Looms Closer, Warn David Cameron and Barack Obama

THE INDEPENDENT: Britain and US warn President Assad of 'serious response'

Military action against Syria moved a step closer last night after Britain and the United States warned President Bashar al-Assad that there would be a “serious response” to last week's chemical weapons attack in Syria. As fresh footage emerged of children killed in the strike against a Damascus suburb last Wednesday, David Cameron and Barack Obama agreed in a 40-minute phone call yesterday that the Syrian government was responsible for the atrocity and that all military options are on the table.

The two leaders agreed that "a significant use of chemical weapons would merit a serious response" and a "new stage" in the two-and-a-half-year civil war. In a sign of how the military build-up is escalating, Washington despatched a fourth naval warship to the Mediterranean capable of launching missile attacks on targets on the Syrian mainland. Mr Cameron and the US President are "looking for a response that makes clear our abhorrence about the use of chemical weapons", a British source said. "Both shared the view that there is little doubt that this was a significant use by the Assad regime of chemical weapons against his own people," a No 10 source said.

While Britain is against sending "boots on the ground", military action could range from enforcing no-fly zones to air strikes against the Syrian regime. » | Alex Delmar-Morgan, Jane Merrick | Sunday, August 25, 2013

The Debate Over No Fly Zones in Libya
Mar 7 -Western nations have not reached a united front on the use of no fly zones in Libya. Deborah Lutterbeck reports

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Barack Obama Raises Pressure on Gaddafi as No-fly Zone Gains Support
THE GUARDIAN: Libyan leader told the US and Nato are weighing up a raft of military options, including arming the rebel forces

Barack Obama has stepped up pressure on Colonel Gaddafi, saying the US and Nato allies were considering a military response to violence in Libya, with the list of options including arming the rebels.

Obama's remarks came as Britain and France made progress in drafting a resolution at the UN calling for a no-fly zone triggered by specific conditions, rather than timelines. Downing Street is hopeful that a resolution with clear triggers such as the bombing of civilians would not be subject to a Russian veto at the security council.

The foreign secretary, William Hague, told the Commons a no-fly zone would have to be supported by north African countries and rebel leaders and would also need an appropriate legal basis.

He said he was looking at ways of restricting the money going to the Libyan regime from oil revenues, with one option being money going into an escrow account for the use of the Libyan people.

Many Tory backbenchers voiced concerns about a no-fly zone, including the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, Richard Ottaway, who argued they had not worked in Bosnia or Iraq.

The international shift towards support for a UN-endorsed no-fly zone has seen influential US senators such as John Kerry and John McCain backing the plan. There is growing concern that the rebels will be crushed unless they are given some practical military support, even if it is limited to disabling Libyan air control radar. >>> Simon Tisdall, Patrick Wintour and Richard Norton-Taylor | Monday, March 07, 2011

Military Action Against Iran Back in Favour in the White House
THE GUARDIAN: · Military solution back in favour as Rice loses out
· President 'not prepared to leave conflict unresolved'
The balance in the internal White House debate over Iran has shifted back in favour of military action before President George Bush leaves office in 18 months, the Guardian has learned.

The shift follows an internal review involving the White House, the Pentagon and the state department over the last month. Although the Bush administration is in deep trouble over Iraq, it remains focused on Iran. A well-placed source in Washington said: "Bush is not going to leave office with Iran still in limbo." Cheney pushes Bush to act on Iran (more) By Ewen MacAskill in Washington and Julian Borger

Mark Alexander