US mulls over arming rebels
The United States is rethinking its opposition to arming the Syrian rebels, US President Barack Obama's defense chief said on Thursday, even as Obama himself signaled that no decision to deepen US involvement in the conflict was imminent.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel cautioned that giving weapons to the forces fighting President Bashar al-Assad was only one of the options being considered by the US.
"You look at and rethink all options. It doesn't mean you do or you will" choose them, Hagel told a Pentagon news conference.
Obama, speaking in Mexico, said the US would "look at all options". But he also signaled no decision would be rushed.
Most US citizens do not want the country to intervene in Syria's civil war, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Wednesday.
- Reuters
(China Daily 05/04/2013 page7)
