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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Does Obama Have to Act in Syria?

    President Obama has warned Syria that using—or even transporting--chemical weapons would be a “game changer.”

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    By Warren Olney • Apr 24, 2013 • 51m Listen

    President Obama has warned Syria that using—or even transporting--chemical weapons would be a “game changer.” Britain, France and Israel now claim that the al-Assad regime has thrown down the gauntlet. Syria denies the charge, but is the evidence credible? Will the US have to respond? What are the available options?

    Banner Photo © Reuters - Handout photo from SANA, Syria's national news agency.

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:00

      Air Traffic Controller Furloughs Cause Thousands of Flight Delays

      385 domestic airline flights were cancelled yesterday and 6,396 were delayed. Remember “sequester?” The FAA says the best way to save money is to furlough its employees—including air-traffic controllers.

      Read the story
      8 min
    2. 7:53

      Syria’s Chemical Weapons and Obama’s “Red Line”

      Last week, Britain and France asked the UN to investigate evidence that Syria has used chemical weapons in its ongoing civil war.  Yesterday, Israel’s top military intelligence analyst said photographs from attacks near Aleppo and Damascus show victims with constricted pupils foaming at the mouth—possible signs of the nerve agent sarin.

      Read the story
      35 min
    3. 43:27

      How Problems at the Texas Fertilizer Plant Escaped Detection

      Last week’s explosion at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas killed 15 people—10 of them volunteer firefighters.  It burned a school and destroyed or damaged buildings all over the tiny town.  With 2,400 tons of ammonium nitrate stored there, did regulators ever ask the right questions?

      Read the story
      8 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Kerry Cavanaugh

      editorial writer at the Los Angeles Times

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

      NewsNationalPolitics

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:008 min

      Air Traffic Controller Furloughs Cause Thousands of Flight Delays

    2. 7:5335 min

      Syria’s Chemical Weapons and Obama’s “Red Line”

    3. 43:278 min

      How Problems at the Texas Fertilizer Plant Escaped Detection

    Back to To the Point