Congressional Hawks Claim Syria Chemical Attack ‘Probable,’ Demand Action

White House Promises Probe, But Intel Chiefs Want War

The White House is continuing to say it has no actual evidence that yesterday’s report of a chemical weapons attack in Syria was real, but is promising to investigate anyhow.

The case is closed for the Intelligence Committee chairs of both House and Senate, however, who each cited “highly classified” evidence that it was “probable” that the attack had taken place.

Rep. Mike Rogers (R – MI), the House chair, says that since President Obama threatened to attack Syria if they used a chemical weapon, he is obliged to do so without waiting for the investigation, saying a failure to invade would be a “stain on our national character.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D – CA), his Senate counterpart, said essentially the same, noting that if the attack were confirmed it would mean Syria crossed the “red line” President Obama set up. Since the goal of many in the House and Senate is war at all costs, the assumption will always be that the attacks happened, and the lack of evidence is simply something to shrug off.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.