Dempsey Backs Syria Framework

September 18, 2013 • 4:27PM

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told reporters at the Pentagon, today, during a joint press conference with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, that the framework agreement worked out by Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is feasible, and will put the US in a better position with regard to Syria. Dempsey said that his current role, and the current role of the DoD, is to provide some planning assistance to the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, OPCW, who has the lead, as well as to maintain the credible threat of force, should the diplomatic track fail." Dempsey indicated his belief that the Syrian regime does have control of its stockpile and that, while Syria is a challenging environment, the securing, removal and/or destruction of Syria's chemical weapons stockpile is feasible "so long as they agree to the framework, which causes them to be responsible for the security, the movement, the protection of the investigators or the inspectors... But we've got to make sure we keep our eye on all of those things."

Dempsey also made the point that, in his view, executing the framework meets US national interests. "I've said previously — and I'll say it again — that these kinds of conflicts ebb and flow," he said. "We know from open-source reporting that the opposition is concerned that this focus on chemicals will detract from the willingness not only of the United States, but other partners to support them. But I'll tell you, you know, in terms of threats to U.S. — direct threats to U.S. interests, I think that — and I have said previously — that the elimination of the Assad regime's chemical capability is right at the top of our national interests. And so if this process bears fruit and achieves its stated purpose, we will be in a better position."