US prepared for 'any contingency' if Assad, others retaliate after US strike

Responding to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who warned of retaliation if the United States launches a military strike against Syria, a top aide to President Barack Obama on Monday said the United States is prepared for "any contingency" from the Syrian regime or its allies. In a Damascus interview with Charlie Rose of CBS News over the weekend, Assad said a U.S. strike on Syria would bring retaliation, if not from Syria, from outside factors. In a CNN "New Day" interview on Monday, Ben Rhodes, assistant to President Barack Obama and deputy national security adviser for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting, was asked about U.S. plans if Syria strikes back or Hezbollah or some other Assad support group acts in vengeance. "We are prepared for any contingency, of course, and the United States military is far stronger than any of Assad or his allies," Rhodes said. "So I think what we are going to send is a clear message to him that he has no interest in escalating this conflict, frankly. He has no interest in inviting strikes from the United States military." The U.S. military will be prepared "for any contingency to defend American personnel in the region, to defend our ally, Israel," he added. "But again, it is just not in Assad's interest to escalate this conflict with us." "So we believe we can do a limited strike, no boots on the ground, that imposes consequences on Assad, deters his future use of these (chemical) weapons, but again, makes it clear to him that it is just not in his interest to escalate a conflict with the United States of America," Rhodes said. Meanwhile, Obama continued his intensive public and private lobbying this week to win U.S. congressional support for a limited missile strike against Syria, despite indications that the effort may not succeed. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with a group of key Republican senators on Sunday night to discuss the issue, and Obama planned to meet with Senate Democrats on Tuesday, prior to the President giving a prime-time speech on the issue Tuesday night. Obama will argue that not punishing Assad for his alleged use of chemical weapons would embolden his regime and his allies, Hezbollah and Iran, according to administration officials. In the past two weeks, administration officials have held discussions on the Syria issue with at least 85 senators and more than 165 House members. But polls, and remarks by members of Congress who have discussed the issue with their constituents, indicate a majority of Americans oppose any U.S. military action against Syria, with the public expressing concerns about the United States becoming entangled in the Syrian civil war. (end) rm.ibi KUNA 091841 Sep 13NNNN