'We learned our lesson' the official said in describing the Obama administration's response to Syria's use of chemical weapons in 2012.
In recent weeks, American officials have expressed concerns that Russia has been preparing a false-flag operation -- claiming Ukraine's use of chemical or biological weapons -- that Russia could use as a justification for its use of such weapons.President Joe Biden speaks about the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a news conference after a NATO summit and Group of Seven meeting at NATO headquarters, March 24, 2022, in Brussels.
Following meetings with NATO leaders in Brussels on Thursday, President Joe Biden said the United Statesto Russia's use of chemical and biological weapons, but did not lay out specifics for possible responses. "We would respond if he uses it," Biden said at a news conference."The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use.""We are working through contingency planning for a range of different scenarios," national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters traveling with the president on Friday."In broad terms, I believe that there is convergence around the fundamental nature of how the alliance would respond to these issues.
The administration also is weighing how it would respond should Russia target the supply lines inside Poland and other NATO countries that are flowing in thousands of American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine's military.The administration will most likely pursue a response of"careful reciprocity" to avoid escalation according to the official.
Contemplating a tougher response is tempered by the reality that"everyone knows what that would lead to" said the official.
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