Topic: Phyllis Bennis

The 1999 Kosovo precedent is being utilized by the Obama administration to justify potential military intervention in Syria without UN Security Council approval. Analyst Phyllis Bennis explains that while chemical weapon use is a war crime, the U.S. lacks legal authority for force unless acting in immediate self-defense. The administration has shifted language from international law to international norms to bypass treaty limitations.

Reports suggest that Israeli officials provided the Obama administration with the definitive proof used to implicate the Syrian regime. Secretary John Kerry continues to emphasize the gut-wrenching nature of social media images as a moral imperative for action. Critics argue that relying on unverified digital content sets a dangerous precedent for military intelligence.