"If we are saying in a clear and decisive but very limited way, we send a shot across the bow saying, 'Stop doing this,' this can have a positive impact on our national security over the long term," Obama said.
He made the remarks during an interview with PBS NewsHour before a UN inspector team, which is in Syria at the invitation of Damascus, releases its findings over last week’s deadly chemical weapons attack near the Syrian capital.
Obama said the US military has provided him with several options regarding possible military strikes on Syria but he has not yet made a decision on the issue.
President Obama, however, added that a "direct" US military intervention in Syria, like the one against Iraq, would not be helpful.
The US president said that the militants fighting against the government of President Bashar Al Assad could not carry out chemical weapons attacks.
The Syrian government has rejected the allegations as baseless and even accused the Western countries of encouraging the insurgents in the country to use chemical weapons.
“The most dangerous thing is that the United States, Britain and France encourage these terrorists to use chemical weapons. These countries defend them and this has to stop. This means that these terrorists will soon use chemical weapons against Americans and Europeans,” said Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Maqdad on Wednesday.
MNA
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