Syria had denied the use of chemical weapons , accusing the United States of manipulating evidence to pressure President Bashar al-Assad to step down . ` ` As a general rule , I do n't rule Obama out as commander - in - chief , '' president says . Obama says he has discussed the issue with commanders in the region and they agree . He says there is evidence of chemical weapons use in Iraq . ` ` We do n't know when , where or how they were used , '' the president says .
` ` As a general rule , I do n't rule Obama out as commander - in - chief , '' president says . Obama says he has discussed the issue with commanders in the region and they agree . He says there is evidence of chemical weapons use in Iraq . ` ` We do n't know when , where or how they were used , '' the president says .