‘Attack on Syria would not be a pin prick’

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told lawmakers that a planned military strike on Syria over its chemical weapons use would not be a "pin prick". Photo: Reuters

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told lawmakers that a planned military strike on Syria over its chemical weapons use would not be a "pin prick". Photo: Reuters

Published Sep 4, 2013

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Washington - US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told lawmakers on Wednesday that a planned military strike on Syria over its chemical weapons use would not be a “pin prick” and would significantly reduce President Bashar al-Assad's military power.

“The president (Barack Obama) has said ... this would not be a pin prick. Those were his words. This would be a significant strike that would in fact degrade his capability,” Hagel told a hearing of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, which is considering whether to authorise use of military force.

Hagel also said he thought “the likelihood is very high” that Assad would use chemical weapons again unless the United States took action to make clear use of the weapons was unacceptable. Secretary of State John Kerry agreed, saying he thought it was “100 percent” likely. - Reuters

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