Obama: Syria will be ‘accountable’ for chemical weapons

President Obama warned the regime of Syrian President Bashar
Assad that it will be “held accountable” if it uses its stockpile of chemical
weapons.

“The world is
watching and they will be held accountable if they make the tragic mistake of
using those weapons,” Obama said, speaking at a speech at the Veterans of
Foreign Wars convention Monday.

{mosads}Obama weighed in Monday on what’s becoming a growing concern
for in Syria as Assad’s regime destabilizes. A Syrian foreign ministry
spokesman Monday said that Syria would not use its weapons on any Syrian
citizens despite the open conflict between the rebels and Assad’s forces. But
the official suggested that the weapons might be used on any foreign invaders
who attack Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this weekend
that Syria’s chemical weapons have become Israel’s primary concern in Syria,
and hawks in Congress have called on the Obama administration to get more
involved to ensure the weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands.

The Pentagon also warned Syria not to think “one iota” about
using the weapons, and Pentagon spokesman George Little said the Assad regime
has received the message “through other channels” as well.

Obama said that the administration would continue to work
with its friends and allies in the Syrian opposition to help the day come with
the Syrian people have a government that “respects basic rights to live in
peace, freedom and dignity.”