US President Barack Obama addresses the 68th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York, September 24, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Obama defended his threat of force against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime and denounced critics who accuse the United States of inconsistency.
"There must be a strong Security Council resolution to verify that the Assad regime is keeping its commitments, and there must be consequences if they fail to do so," Obama told world leaders.
Obama lashed out at doubters who questioned whether Assad carried out the August 21 chemical attack near Damascus, which US intelligence says killed some 1,400 people.
"These rockets were fired from a regime-controlled neighborhood, and landed in opposition neighborhoods," Obama said.
"It is an insult to human reason - and to the legitimacy of this institution - to suggest that anyone other than the regime carried out this attack," he said.
"I do not believe that military action - by those within Syria, or by external powers - can achieve a lasting peace. Nor do I believe that America or any nation should determine who will lead Syria," Obama said.
"Nevertheless, a leader who slaughtered his citizens and gassed children to death cannot regain the legitimacy to lead a badly fractured country," he said of Assad.
Obama's remarks come as the United States and Russia wrangle over a UN Security Council resolution that would accompany an agreement by Syria to give up chemical weapons.
The US-Russia deal at least temporarily halted a push by Obama and supported by France for a military strike on Syria.
Diplomatic path toward Iran must be tested
US President Barack Obama told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that there should be a basis for an agreement on Iran's nuclear ambitions but that the roadblocks will be difficult to overcome.
In an address laying out US policy toward the volatile Middle East and North Africa, Obama made clear that the United States will take direct action to eliminate threats when necessary and will use military force when diplomacy fails.
Obama, in closely watched remarks on Iran based on a diplomatic opening offered by Iran's new president, Hassan Rouhani, said the United States wants to resolve the Iran nuclear issue peacefully but is determined to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
"The roadblocks may prove to be too great but I firmly believe the diplomatic path must be tested," Obama said.
He urged the UN Security Council to approve a strong resolution aimed at ensuring Syria keeps its commitments to give up chemical weapons and said the United States will provide an additional $340 million in humanitarian aid.
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UN action on Syria is not going to happen for a number of good reasons:
1) The conflict is a US backed proxy war and Assad is winning and therefore had no reason to use chemical weapons on his own people. 2) Everyone knows point (1). 3) Everyone knows that the US cannot do illegal military strikes on Syria because then Russia could do military strikes on US assets. The US is far too bankrupt to start a war with the Russians. 4) America is bankrupt. It is losing power in the world, its lap dogs now have less reason to support it when they know the American administration is telling lies. 5) The US is trying to get rid of Assad so that it can get rid of Russia's military base and then let Israel steal Syria's land. NOT going to happen, there is just not enough Arab support for Israel to own Syria land to make this happen.