From the New York Times are Michael Varvara. This he's dead today five days after a chemical attack killed dozens of syrian civilians, President Trans National Security advisers, gathered in a room at the White House to decide Or not the? U S should attack Syria it's Friday April. Thirteen, Clean Gap- pilots Michael sorry about all this week arose

as we know, have internet access in the New York Times cubicle about and nobody in the Pentagon to use their self conditional access in the building like yet be on the phone and on internet and all my computer Taiwan up here so link aroun so never goes orphans depending on how you can make their own called out here to secure area you don't have to access inside the building. I hope it is thirty afternoon. It is three sixteen p M tell me about where you are in your reporting here we are and a weird holding pattern at the moment, because, right now,

as we are speaking, there is really going on at the White House the President's National Security Council with the president. This is the first major national security decision that the new national Security adviser John Bolt and will be a part of defence secretary matters. Is there the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dumford is their president trumped as they're all of his pop national security officials? Are there and the decision on the table is whether or not the United States goes ahead with airstrike on Syria, as the president has telegraph that he wants to do

I wanna go to ease the situation except on the UK utterly condemns the use of chemical weapons in any circumstances, and we must urgently establish what happens on Saturday. It is for that reason. My guess him under the French and the British have both indicated that they are willing to join in an attack. I think they Merrick and think that the French my go ahead and do without them at the? U S? Being President Emmanuel Macro, his

at the forefront of condemning this approach has said earlier today. Those of whom will apply. They have proof that such forces used chemical weapons, disarm she meek anti duty to see. The question now is whether President Trop goes ahead and orders coalition strike in which the United States will take part in though he suggests we understand the French and the British. Our allies are planning on some kind of response to this chemical attack, a military response against Syria and the? U S right now, he's trying to figure out what we should do and if we should do it income, Nation with them are on our own, as it is that what's happening is meeting no, that's not completely accurate. The french say that they're gonna do something, but I d wanna, put words in their mouth and say that they plant anything because they don't ended lady. Unless we do it, I dont know if the British are completely there yet

The expectation we have is that whatever we do, the commission officials had said to us now on background that they wanted to be a multinational coordinated coalition. We spots didn't want it to be just and wise them, because other countries give us more diplomatic cover. It makes the same as it is not just the United States taking a punch. Add President Assad whenever you do anything in a multi, away, but the bees, particularly the United States, is that you have more credibility and more covered diplomatically to the french government and potential of the british government.

Are waiting on us, the United States government to decide how to respond to this alleged chemical attack, and that's what's going on inside this National Security Council meeting the United States is President Tromp was specifically making up his mind, got at any time you use force any strike. Another country, it's a huge deal can be viewed in many ways is an act of war, and you know that both the syrian government and its backers in that regard and Russia are going to be jumping up and down after such a strike. In saying this was the legal we should have done this. This is an act of war and they will dreaded and they may even go ahead, would be tallish, and you want to make sure you have sort of your diplomatic and legal oars in place and that's why you want to be able to say we have over warming proof we have. Maybe perhaps you and samples, we're blood apples, and this was acquiring or a barren or legal, some sort of

or chemical attack, so we're trying, in a very evidence, based way to gather all the information required to confirm that. In fact, this was a chemical attack. Lots of people having describing it as such, but it sounds like you're saying, is kind of a forensic processes that actually reach. A point of conclusion is actually when you think about. You know that Iraq WAR in two thousand pre in one of our reputation there. This is why you get so many people at the defence apartment think we really need to have a preponderance of evidence that we can show to the court of international public opinion and kind of windy information or back to this meeting at the White House. What do we know about how the president has been thinking about this decision battle? really hard question. Michael could be so many different bank president Trump face with graphic images of dead families and suffering children. Didn't we for verification before declaring Syria's actions. A chemical attacks,

he started off at the beginning of the week following MR alongside big price, to pay and that he will respond Then, twenty, according to the latest chemical attack, reportedly carried out by the Assad regime in area that the amount of time has passed away then tweeted on Wednesday morning Trump is responding to a report that Russia has said it. Will she down any missiles, fired and Syria respond with the russian threat that it will shoot down any American, the Wolf again get ready Russia because they will be coming nice in new and smart growth are back in their gonna becoming who should be partners with a gas killing animals who tells his people and enjoys. Please sort of a lot of people think that ok, that's pretty much is a done deal than women TAT the president tweeting this morning, never said when an attack on Syria would take place, and then why? Don't you add when I do it? I didn't say how soon it could be said soon. I could be that those in

this is an unpredictable president, even under the bed, we're looking very very seriously very closely that all situation and air We'll see what happens. Folks will see what happens it's too bad that the word Puts us in a position that is the belief bad with all that that is no way that we can credibly not go ahead and strike now hope he doesn't do something. He's gonna get the thing at a criticism that President Obama, God when in two thousand and thirteen I drew a red line and then I thought of it and a bomb didn't retaliate. So this meeting is more about when the United States or its allies or all of us together, launch an attack. Not if I think so but there's a part of it. I want to say not so bad many women have a couple of people. Disappointing told me that they done attack was fifty fifty cents. Officials told me that in yes here,

It was like a hundred, and so when you hear that from sources and listening to defence secretary battle himself this morning when he was testified before the house. Armed services committee, both last administration in this one, made very clear that our role in Syria is the defeat of ISIS. We are not going to engage in the civil war itself about caution. While he sat a tactical concern that we don't add, any civilian does do everything humanly possible to avoid that we're trying to stop the murder of innocent people. We offer happen think about. You know what happens if this half glades Russia retaliating the thought of a man with colleagues, you don't you get dragged into a wider war, but on a strategic level it? How do we keep this from escalating out of control? Its do get my drift on that

He was standing a little more cautious, but I expected him. I still think that probably will go out and do it, but I am certainly not a hundred supervision leave matters is in this meeting at the White House, who else is in the room at this necessary council meeting. Oh that's a really interesting question, because this is the first big national security crisis, that's being helped by the new national security adviser, the very hawkish John Bolton President George Bush's you added back at our he started work week on Monday at ease, Eddie God, a huge crisis on the table are gonna, be the one who shepherding it is going to be really interesting to see where John Open comes down on both argued in favour of american air strikes.

Syria for Chemical weapons attack? We did last year, Ambassador John Morton, saying earlier today that the USA's airstrikes were exactly the right thing to do when there was a similar case, the president, has full constitutional authority under the commander in chief clause to act she did. He made a very limited and precise strike for a very limited and precise reason. I think it was the right thing to do and I think last night the Obama AIR in american foreign policy ended argued against it when it was Obama in two thousand there by were a member of Congress. I would vote against an authorization to use force here. I don't think it sent America's interest. I don't think we should. In effect, take sides in the syrian conflict, there is very little to recommend either side to me. So since I don't see any you relative to the use of military force in Syria. In this context, I would vote no now the

Oh, I don't know where he's gonna come down so between these two most influential advisers, madness and bone, whose arguing what, as best you can tell from your reporting, I I dont know. I have no idea what open arguing I'm think I think I think both in its gonna be arguing in favour of a strike. He is apparently what we heard from people this week from forces who said he spent a lot of time this week study on how to make the case before the: U n watch again attack What imply that perhaps he is in favour go ahead and doing one. I wouldn't say that matters is against it, but I think Madam Secretary wants Make sure that we have a strategy for what happens after that Clearly a matter of bad thing. Don't do it is more about

of matters, urgent caution and consideration of what happens on Dayton booming when you see do it. What are the actual options for how to proceed with this attack on Syria, what it looks like we're looking at what they call: Tomahawk crews, missile attacks on syrian weapons facilities and airfield the Defence Department, protect them very much wants to limit

targets chemical weapons, ilities or airfield from which planes launching chemical attacks. Were you that's the expectation that the change? But the real question is whether or not we attack one airfield to airfields also of weapons facilities or we try to take out. The entire range is very much a question of just how many places you do try to him. Will you don't see anybody talking about our man, piloted american fighter jets or bombers flying over Syria and dropping bombs? And the reason for that is because, unlike the rest of the big adversaries that the United States have been at war with over the past few years, Map, Ghana fan this logic. State Syria

A very well developed air defence system is capable of shooting down american Plain, and at that point then, you really are in a big war. He charging mergers. In Syria, for were the chemical attack was launched a year ago, fifty nine I will use the airfield from which the chemical attack last year, I have launched sixty nine tomahawk missiles were fired from to: U S: warships in the eastern Mediterranean tool. The shy rat air base in homes province, which is around a hundred kilometers from

Han ship Coon the scene of the alleged attack damaging pointy syrian aircraft, as well as hangers fuel and weapons steeples, but putting the Pentagon officials and aircraft shelter which once how's the syrian jet they carried out the April chemical attack, is once again in use within a day of last year's that plane for taking off and that airfield discern Airforces operations initiated Airbus is back to normal. There are very few people think that that is a bit much detail. President Assad from launching future chemical weapons. It back. So there is a lot of debate now about whether or not the United States and France and Britain wants to launch a more coordinated and perhaps stained by but TAT they also discussing whether or not the widen that strategy more airfields and maybe hit

He weapons facilities as well as a year ago, America, five sixty crews, missiles at the Chirac AIR Force Base after another chemical weapons attacks against civilians, but the it was soon up and running, and the chemical weapons attacks didn't stop rush. Took no action. Then, but ones this time will be different It seems like one major difference between this attack and the attack a year ago. Where the? U S is relations are with Russia and just how widely Russia is now embedded in Syria. So how much is that weighing on this point as I made the Russia factor is huge, and I think that part of the reason why this is taking a few more days had come to a decision that we saw last year. Russia has been very very full time around Russia says an alleged chemical attack in the Syrians.

City of Duma has been stage that came as part of a speech by the country's representative. Before the. U N Security Council was in your Boomer Google following the liberation of Duma from David Ferrie Bellicose adequately, either by chemical weapons back in interviews, not a single local resin confirmed the chemical attack having taken place on Russia now Boeing oh yeah, she's down America's nestles and all sorts of other things, and that is become increasingly clear, that Russia is at least putting in a lot of the rhetorical backing that by our side in a lot of the rhetorical backing sad Bashar, Al Assad might think he'd be. At the same time, though, I would do that Russia that they want to get into a big war with the United States either at the end of the day. The hope is that this can stay focused on the weapons

these that Bashar Al Assad is expected to have, as opposed to widening in some sort of all out you as Russia, This is about humanity, we're talking about humanity, and it cannot be allowed to happen, so will be looking at that barbaric ACT and studying what's going on we're trying to get people in there. As you know, it's been surrounded, so it's very hard to get people in because not only has it been hit, it's been surrounded and.

If they're innocent. Why aren't they allowing people to go in and prove cuz? You know they play me. They didn't make the attack. So if it's Russia, if it's Syria, if it's a ran, if it's all of them together, we'll figure it out and we'll know the answers to quite soon. So we're looking at that very very strongly. Anniversaries. Clean it sounds like if we do go ahead with some kind of military action or probably again talking about a limited set of strikes on Syria and weapons bases and airfields like the one president from ordered last year, but given that here we are again, one year later

and the syrian government still seems to be using chemical weapons on its people. It seems that wasn't so effective is the point now just to do something so that we can say we did, but ultimately were not really changing anything. A better approach to serious about that is I I got I'm not completely as much of a cynic as he found right now. I hope

I hope that's not the case. I think there is honest belief among the people that I talk in the government that is possible for us to try to do something that will make a Assad think twice in the future before he does something like this. The question is how to make that strike back this hard enough that it causes President Assad's thing twice yet not so hard that it brings Russia into war with the United States, and that's a needle that I think, they're sitting at the White House right now, trying to add Helene. Thank you very much. What is the next few hours of your life? Look like we're, gonna be out of the bag on I've got to have begun. The White House to so much refer to secretary bad is to come back here after his national security media, then he'll hide from the reporter, so will, after all, scurry around trying to figure out what happened when in some sense you too kind of waiting for for bombs to drop away,

a war again here. Only thank you. Thank you, Michael. As a Friday morning, the! U S had not launched an attack on Syria, we'll be right back.

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just a continuing rape of our country. That's what it is. The sawhorse word: it's a rape of our country disclosed the shift during a meeting with law makers from states that rely on farming. In response, the criticism that the trade war he sparked with China is hurting their constituents region. In teepee, which already includes Japan, Vietnam in Australia would open. We're foreign markets to american farmers and offer relief from chinese tariffs, but the times ports that re entering the trade pack could take months and that the EU best way to help farmers would be to avoid or trade war with China in the first place, the daily is produced by view about Lindsey Garrison, Rachel Cuesta, Annie Brown? Andy mills- I X Rays Colorado Clare, tennis, getter page Coward,

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