Update | Critics doubt effectiveness of US strike on Syria
Obama considers 'limited' military strike against Assad's regime, but critics warn that likely casualties could make situation worse
US President Barack Obama says he is considering a "limited, narrow" military strike against Syria, a move that many Middle East experts fear could make things even worse.
Syria was bracing for a missile attack as the departure of United Nations weapons inspectors yesterday opened a window for a possible US-led strike. "We are expecting an attack at any moment," a security official said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin broke his silence on the alleged chemical-weapons attack of August 21, urging Obama not to rush into a decision, but to consider whether strikes would be worth the civilian casualties they would inevitably cause.
Putin also questioned whether Syrian government troops should be held responsible.
"In such conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for foreign military intervention is foolish nonsense," he said.
Obama's administration claims its intelligence gives firm evidence the regime launched a chemical onslaught that killed 1,429 people, including at least 426 children. But diplomats and other experts worry about a range of unintended consequences a punitive strike might have, from a surge in anti-Americanism that could help bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to a wider regional conflict.
