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September 19, 2013

Ex-Pentagon Chiefs Criticize Obama on Syria 
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President Obama's approach to Syria has came under criticism from his
first two defense secretaries. At a public event in Dallas, Leon Panetta
said Obama should have followed through on a threat of U.S. military
attack, while Robert Gates called for increased military aid to Syrian
rebels.

Leon Panetta: "My view would have been that once the president came to
that conclusion, that he should have directed limited action going after
Assad to make very clear to the world that when we draw a line and we
give our word, dammit, we back it up."

Robert Gates: "My view is significantly increasing the amount of covert
assistance to selected rebel groups, opposition groups. I would not
provide them with surfaced air missiles, but I would give them heavier
weapons and more of them."

 

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