August 27th, 2013
02:34 PM ET

Hagel on Syria: 'Ready to go' if ordered

With a flurry of diplomatic signals and activity, U.S. officials sought Tuesday to lay the groundwork for a possible military strike on Syria in response to last week's suspected chemical weapons attack that Washington blames on President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry consulted allies and indicated potential imminent action by a coalition likely to include key NATO partners and regional powers.

Days after the United States moved warships armed with cruise missiles into the region, Hagel told the BBC on Tuesday that forces were ready to carry out a strike if ordered. A senior Defense Department official told CNN that any strike could be completed "within several days."

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Filed under: Military • Syria
soundoff (33 Responses)
  1. saywhat

    UN inspectors were ordered out by us but UN is sticking to its plan.

    August 27, 2013 at 2:49 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Hope

    We're ready, too. The only regret is that nothing could've been done sooner. Just goes to show there's no negotiating with a psychopath, a liar and a murderer... especially one who stockpiles chemical weapons. I pray for the homeless, the tattered and the torn. May by Gods grace they be reunited with their loved ones... free at last.

    Bless Yourselves,
    Hope

    August 27, 2013 at 3:06 pm | Report abuse |
  3. chrissy

    @ saywhat, why are WE ordering the UN at all? Thats a little bit audacious on our part don't ya think?

    August 27, 2013 at 3:10 pm | Report abuse |
  4. chrissy

    Well unless the US expects the UN might discove those stickpiles came FROM the US.

    August 27, 2013 at 3:12 pm | Report abuse |
  5. chrissy

    Oops sorry about the typo's. Meant "discover and stockpiles"

    August 27, 2013 at 4:13 pm | Report abuse |
  6. saywhat

    @chrissy
    i'm having difficulty posting today.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:08 pm | Report abuse |
  7. saywhat

    The Syrians who have been crushed between the regime and 'rebels' losing life, limb and property, forced to flee their country are now in for bombing raids and missiles.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:11 pm | Report abuse |
  8. saywhat

    @chrissy
    the inspectors were being forced to leave by us taking the plea that its too late and that we accept the 'rebels' claim of use of chemical weapons by the regime.
    If you remember in the previous case also UN had pointed the finger at rebels. US doesn't want to take that risk.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:15 pm | Report abuse |
  9. saywhat

    US which has been reluctant to get involved militarily was under intense pressure from Israel & S.Arabia.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:17 pm | Report abuse |
  10. saywhat

    We have to somehow 'legitimize' an attack. Iraq as i said earlier, all over again.
    God help humanity.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:20 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Hopefully the intel coming from Syria will be more truthful than what was said about Iraq.
      I will never get how going to war will stop the killing. Iraq proved it was not so.

      August 27, 2013 at 7:33 pm | Report abuse |
  11. chrissy

    Yea but if you also remember in recent weeks its been reported that the US has been funding the rebels. And its also been reported that the rebels consist largely of Al Queada!

    August 27, 2013 at 7:32 pm | Report abuse |
  12. bobcat (in a hat)©

    These people who say things like we are ready or we should get more involved in this fiasco really need a wake up call.
    Do they mean that they personally ready to take up arms and go over there and do what they say is the right thing to do ? Are they saying they are willing to allow their own loved ones to be put in the line of fire ? Or are they saying it's alright to risk the lives of our US warriors as long as they or their don't have to be the ones over there ? It's always easy say those things when it doesn't involve you personally.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      As long as no US boots touch Syrian soil, I'll be happy. Let those who are so eager to engage in a war supply the soldiers. Hint, hint, SA and Israel.
      Our troops are tired.

      August 27, 2013 at 7:43 pm | Report abuse |
  13. chrissy

    So you either have to go in all the way, or not at all?

    August 27, 2013 at 7:33 pm | Report abuse |
  14. saywhat

    That is an established fact@chrissy.
    AlQaeda is now the leader of the largest factions of the so called 'rebels'
    Both S.Arabia and Israel have been funding them, providing arms and providing training. That commenced long befiore the world even learned of a Syrian 'uprising'.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:37 pm | Report abuse |
  15. saywhat

    As i said the broader picture here is vastly disturbing. it involves similar actions against Lebanon and Iran.

    August 27, 2013 at 7:39 pm | Report abuse |
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