US Attack on Syria Likely with UN Support

Washington- Posted by: Prensa Latina Posted date: 01 June 2012 In: International, North America, Politics

US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said today that if they get UN authorization, his country might launch a military intervention in Syria, the scene of conflict between the government and armed opposition.
According to Panetta, his main responsibility is to guarantee that Washington gets the support needed from the international community to deploy its troops in Syria.

He made these remarks to journalists a day after US representative to the UN, Susan Rice, warned of a likely US military intervention if Russia keeps on opposing tighter sanctions against Damascus.

Rice cited three scenarios: that Syria implements the peace plan of UN special envoy Kofi Annan; that the UN Security Council intensifies the pressure on the government of President Bashar Al-Assad or launching a military operation.

Russia and China, both members of the UN Security Council, oppose any initiative supporting a greater interference in the internal affairs of Syria.

US Under-Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, David Cohen is scheduled to travel next week to Russia, Israel and Britain to seek support to apply new sanctions against Damascus and Iran.