--- title: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” | TIME description: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” canonical: https://time.com/video/4vJEle0c/ og:title: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” og:description: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” og:url: https://time.com/video/4vJEle0c/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4vJEle0c/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” twitter:description: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4vJEle0c/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern” [Watch (HLS stream): Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern”](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4vJEle0c.m3u8) (6:41)  _Published 2013-08-23. Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern”_ --- Jul 27, 2023 3:41 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Obama Discusses Paris Attacks at the G20 Summit: "We will redouble our efforts in Syria"](/video/lrgrkoiV/) ### Obama Discusses Paris Attacks at the G20 Summit: "We will redouble our efforts in Syria" [Obama Discusses Syria in CNN Interview](/video/A1K2lUVN/) ### Obama Discusses Syria in CNN Interview [WATCH: President Obama on Syria](/video/jBsA1NQK/) ### WATCH: President Obama on Syria --- ## Transcript Let me ask you about some of the emerging situations most recently Syria. You've seen the images, you know the situation very well. Do you believe at this point you need to investigate in order to say what seems obvious, which is that the U. S needs to do more. Well we are right now gathering information about this particular event. But I can say that, unlike some of the evidence that we were trying to get earlier, that led to a UN investigator going into Syria. What we've seen in the case, that this is clearly a big event, a grave concern. And we are already in communications with the entire international community. We are moving through the UN to try to prompt better action from them. And we've called on the Syrian government to allow an investigation of the site because UN Inspectors are on the ground right now. We don't expect cooperation given their past history. And you know? What I do believe is that Although the situation in Syria is very difficult, and the notion that the US can somehow solve what is a sectarian complexed problem inside of Syria sometimes is overstated. [ CROSSTALK ] But delayed can be deadly, right Mr. president? There is no doubt that, when you start seeing. Chemical weapons used on a large scale, and again, we're still gathering information about this particular event, but it is very troublesome. And There's strong proof they used them already though, in the past. Then that starts getting, to some core national interests that the Unites States has, both. In terms of us making sure that weapons of mass destruction are not proliferating, as well as needing to protect our allies, our bases in the region. This is something that is gonna require America's attention, and hopefully the entire international community's attention. Senator McCain came on New Day very strong on this. He believes that the U. S. 's credibility in the region has been hurt. That a situation like Syria that he believes there's been delay, and it has led to a boldness by the regime there. That in Egypt that what many believe was a coup wasn't called a coup that led to the problems that we're seeing there now. Do you think that's fair criticism? Well, you know, I am sympathetic to Senator McCain's passion for helping people work through what is an extraordinarily difficult and heartbreaking situation. But what I think the American people also expect me to do as president is to think through What we do from the perspective of what is in our long term national interest you know, sometimes what we've seen is that folks will call for immediate action jumping in to stuff that does not turnout well. Gets us mired in very difficult situations, can result in us being drawn in to very expensive difficult costly interventions that actually breed more resentment in the region. We have to think through strategically what's going to be in our long term national interest even as we work cooperatively internationally to do everything we can to put pressure on those who would kill innocent civilians. The red line comment that you made. Yeap. Was about a year ago this week. M- hm, right. We know since then, there have been things that should qualify for crossing that red line. Well, e, e, e, Chris I've got say, I, I've got to say this. The when we take action, let's just take the example of Syria. There are rules of international law. M- hm. And y, y, you know, i, if the US goes in and attacks another country. Without a UN mandate, and without clear evidences that can be presented. Then there are questions in terms of whether international law supports it. Do we have the coalition to make it work? And you know? Those are considerations that we have to take into account. You don't believe we've seen enough? Well, this, this latest of that is something that we gotta take a look at. Keep in mind also Chris, cuz I know the American people keep this in mind. We've still got a war going on in Afghanistan. True. You know? We're still spending tens of billions of dollars in Afghanistan. I will be ending that war by the end of 2014, but Every time I go to Walter Reed and visit wounded troops. And every time I sign a letter for a casualty of that war I am reminded that there are costs and we have to take those into account as we try to work within an international framework to do everything we can. [ UNKNOWN ] Assad [ UNKNOWN ] Somebody who has lost credibility, and to try to restore, a sense of a democratic process, and stability inside of Egypt. Doesn't have to be military of course. I take your point mister president, when you look at Egypt it's an example of that. Right. Senator McConnell is saying, hey, I think it's time to vote on the aid. Right. And whether or not you give it. That's a non- military measure that could make a difference. You know, my senses with Egypt is that the aid itself may not reverse what the interim government does. But I think what most American's would say is that, we have to be very careful about being seen as aiding and a bedding actions that we think run contrary to our values and our ideals. So, what were doing right now is doing a full evaluation of the US, Egyptian relationship. We care deeply about the Egyptian people. There was a space right after Mr. Morrissey was removed, in which we did a lot of heavy lifting and a lot of diplomatic work to try to encourage the military to move in a path of reconciliation. They did not take that opportunity. It was worth it for us to try that. despite, folks who wanted, more, immediate, black and white action, or statements. Because ultimately what we want is, a good outcome there. Is it safe to say that we have a shorter time frame now, in terms of, what the US, can, use, as a period of decision, Yes. In Syria and in Egypt? Yes. It's a more abbreviated time frame now. Yes. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern”","description":"Obama on CNN: Syria Chemcial Attack is a “Grave Concern”","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/4vJEle0c/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2013-08-23T14:48:39.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/4vJEle0c.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/video/4vJEle0c/","duration":"PT6M41S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/video/4vJEle0c/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}} ```