MSF confirms Syria 'chemical deaths'

[Surya Gayatri]

10. "Obama draws a line in the sand on Syria"...

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4412172.html
6 December 2012
"America has stepped up its rhetoric on Syria precisely because it doesn't want to get involved in any intervention there, writes Adam Lockyer."
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"As some have done, it is tempting to view these comments as a "precursor" to an imminent American intervention in the Syrian conflict. However, the opposite is true. Washington has been watching the Assad regime's increasing use of artillery, mortars and attack aircraft in populated areas and interpreted this as desperation. They believe that the regime is in its death throes, frantically seeking to take any advantage.

Therefore, when intelligence reports emerged that the regime's forces were preparing Syria's stockpiles of chemical weapons (including, reportedly, sarin, mustard and VX nerve gas) for deployment, the United States was understandably concerned. This was partly due to genuine humanitarian fears. But the motivation probably comes more from the Obama administration having done all that it can to not be sucked into the conflict. The use of chemical weapons would make that impossible."

It would appear that the "line-drawing" goes back much further than you imply.