US mulls objectives, outcomes of a strike on Syria

US mulls objectives, outcomes of a strike on Syria

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials are still grappling with how to design a military strike to deter future chemical weapons attacks in Syria and assessing how President Bashar Assad might respond, two senior officials said today, as the Obama administration insisted the Syrian government must be punished. U.S. intelligence agencies are preparing a report laying out the evidence against Assad’s government in last week’s alleged chemical weapons attacks on civilians. The classified version would be sent to key members of Congress and a declassified version would be released publicly. The White House says it’s already convinced, however, and is planning a possible military response while rounding up support from international partners.