[An Nahar] The United States is taking a fresh look at whether to provide weapons to Syria's rebels after having rejected the idea previously, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday.At a news conference with his British counterpart Philip Hammond, Hagel was asked if the U.S. government was rethinking its opposition to arming the rebels and replied: "Yes."
But the Pentagon chief added that no decision had been reached and declined to say if he favored arming the opposition.
"I'm in favor of exploring options and seeing what is the best option in coordination with our international partners," he said.
After the White House acknowledged last week that U.S. intelligence agencies believe the Syrian regime may have used chemical weapons on a small-scale, speculation has mounted that President Barack Obama
...I am not a dictator!
could reverse his opposition to arming the rebels.
At the same presser, Hammond said Britannia had not ruled out arming the rebels or other military options but that his government had to abide by a European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
prohibition on sending weapons to the opposition.