US Defense Secretary James Mattis on Sunday warned Syria against using chemical weapons, implying it would prompt military consequences, as it did last year when President Donald Trump ordered a strike on a Syrian air base.
« Russia was the framework guarantor that (Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad) would get rid of all of it, » Mattis said. « Again, either Russia is incompetent or in cahoots with Assad. »
Mattis also expressed skepticism at the much vaunted roll-out of supposedly new, high tech Russian missiles, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed are « invincible » and have unlimited range.
« I get paid to make strategic assessments, » Mattis said. « And I would just tell you that I saw no change to the Russian military capability and each of these systems (Putin) is taking about that are still years away. »
Mattis said likewise that the announced Russian weapons did not change the « military balance » or create a need for the US to change its posture.
« They did not impact any need on our side, for a change in our deterrent posture, » Mattis said.
