regime did, in fact, do this, i find it inconceivable that bashar al assad didn t know about it or at least direct it. the only thing the only excuse that they might be able to give at this point, perhaps, is that it was a much larger attack than was authorized or it had a much more devastating effect than was authorized. but they re in survival mode. so i think they very much look at this as pulling out all the stops. and the end justifies the means. one of the things that a lot of officials have been at least expressing concern to me about is that any continue ed delay, e attack that has been alleged august 21st, it s now, what, nine days later, and the syrian military, they re getting ready for some sort of attack. they re moving equipment around, troops around to try to make it potentially less punishing for the regime. they have pretty sophisticated capabilities in disbursing some of their equipment, troops, some
thursday, august 29th. announcer: from abc news, this is world news now with john muller and diana perez. good thursday morning. to our top story. president obama says there is no question the syrian government used chemical weapons against civilians and vows any response would send a strong signal to the syrian government. he ll be meeting with intelligence experts and congressional leaders today to weigh possible action. also today the british parliament is convening an emergency session to consider the use of force against syria. in syria fear of retaliation has people on the run. abc s martha raddatz has the latest. reporter: thousands of syrians fleeing damascus as president obama leaves no doubt in an interview with pbs that syria s president assad has crossed a red line. when countries break international norms on weapons like chemical weapons that could threaten us, that they re held
syria. president obama says the syrian government was definitely behind the deadly chemical attacks on civilians. he says if the u.s. does decide to retaliate, the message will be clear and decisive. abc s marci gonzalez joins us now with all the details. good morning, marci. reporter: good morning, john and diana. american warships and cruise missiles are in position. but president obama says he is still weighing his options. i have not made a decision. reporter: president barack obama tells pbs news hour while no decision has been made on syria, there will be consequences for president bashar al assad s regime. the u.s. claims to have indisputable evidence that they are behind the chemical attack that killed hundreds of civilians. i have no interest in any kind of open-ended conflict in syria, but we do have to make sure that when countries break international norms on weapons like chemical weapons that could threaten us that they re held accountable. reporter: the u.n.
accountable. reporter: the president said he has not yet made a decision to strike, but if one is launched, it would be aimed at preventing another chemical attack, not in taking sides in syria s bloody civil war. there are dozens of potential targets. but likely, top among them, facilities storing vehicles which could launch chemical weapons like this storage depot near damascus. the president wants to prevent assad from using chemical weapons on his people again, but he can t hit the chemical weapons storage sites directly. reporter: if the u.s. wants to take aim at assad s military, it could strike the vital mezze airfield. or american missiles could lock on a symbolic target that would send a strong message to assad like the ministry of defense in damascus. as syria waits, so does israel. in jerusalem families stocked up on gas masks fearing a retaliatory strike. if america does act, officials
government, but he s vowing that any response will send a strong signal. today the president will meet with intelligence experts and congressional leaders about the best course of action. also today the british parliament convening emergency session to consider the use of force against syria. if the u.s. does decide to strike potential targets in syria include facilities that store vehicles capable of launching chemical weapons like this one in damascus. another possibility u.s. missiles could take aim at the symbolic target like the ministry of defense. when countries break international norms on weapons like chemical weapons that could threaten us, that they re held accountable. if bashar al assad didn t hesitate to use chemical weapons against his own sleeping civilians, what s to stop him from using them against sleeping turks, jordanians or israelis? military officials say if the u.s. decides to take action, the strikes would only last two or three days. and they add tha