American intelligence officials on Monday pointedly accused Russian and Syrian forces of mass atrocities during their advance on the city, describing a horrific bombing campaign in recent days that has killed women and children at an increasing rate.
‘The regime and Russia’s use of incendiary weapons have contributed to the unconscionable civilian deaths and suffering,’ a U.S. intelligence official said.
‘[F]OUR PEOPLE … ARGUED FOR USE OF FORCE, AND I LOST THE ARGUMENT.’
If Aleppo were to fall, it would put the lives of tens of thousands of additional Syrian civilians at risk, in a war that has already killed more than 400,000 and spawned a massive refugee crisis. Obama might be able to save the city for the rebels if he ordered U.S. air strikes against Assad’s forces, but those would carry a significant risk of escalation with Russia, which backs the Assad regime and is bombing rebel positions.
On an audio recording released over the weekend, Secretary Kerry could be heard saying he had argued unsuccessfully for military action.
‘I think you’re looking at three people, four people in the administration who have all argued for use of force, and I lost the argument,’ Kerry told a group of Syrians on the tape first reported by the New York Times.
Source: NBC News, 04 Oct. 2016