U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that violence in Syria is “spinning out of control” in the wake of a bombing that killed Syria’s defense chief and other regime officials. He made his comments at a joint news conference with British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond.
The two were in Washington to discuss the countries’ joint security interests, and for Great Britain to pick up the first Joint Strike Fighter it had ordered. The British Defense Secretary also said today that Britain’s military does not plan to provide more troops beyond those already announced to assist with Olympic security in London, but he left the door open to that possibility if the need arises. The British military has already committed 3500 additional troops for security efforts after a private contractor came up short.