Mideast Syria_Scho.jpg

In this image taken from amateur video posted online, appearing to show a presumed UN staff member measuring and photographing a canister in the suburb of Moadamiyeh in Damascus, Syria, Monday Aug. 26, 2013, the suburb of Damascus where the Syrian regime allegedly used deadly chemical weapons. AP could not verify the authenticity of the video, but it is consistent with Associated Press reports. U.N. experts collected samples and testimony from Syrian doctors and victims of an alleged chemical weapons attack on Monday following a treacherous journey through government and rebel-held territory during which their convoy was struck by snipers.

(AP Photo/MEDIA OFFICE OF MOADAMIYEH)

As news emerged about the Syrian military's suspected use of chemical weapons against civilians, some members of Massachusetts's all-Democratic congressional delegation urged extreme caution in considering the use of U.S. military force in Syria.

President Barack Obama, a Democrat, warned a year ago that the use of chemical weapons by Syrian forces would be a “red line,” which would force the U.S. to intervene. Reports came out this weekend that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s military had used chemical weapons against Syria’s civilian population. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that chemical weapons had been used in Syria. He criticized Syria for trying to cover up the attack, by failing to cooperate with a United Nations investigation and shelling the area. Kerry said Syria’s use of chemical weapons against civilians is “undeniable” and is a “moral obscenity.” He said Obama was consulting with members of Congress and U.S. allies and would “make an informed decision” on how to respond. Kerry said Obama believes there “must be accountability” for those who would use chemical weapons against civilians.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in an interview with The Republican/MassLive.com that he would not support the use of U.S. military group troops and would be unlikely to support a no-fly zone, which would require a permanent American military presence in Syria.

“Military troops I would rule out entirely,” Markey said. “A no-fly zone, I have serious problems with.”

Markey’s response indicates the extent to which the Iraq War has colored the views of American policymakers. Markey voted in 2002 to authorize the war in Iraq, but later voted against funding the war. Markey criticized Republican President George W. Bush for misleading Congress, after it was discovered that Iraq did not actually have weapons of mass destruction. He also criticized the president for going to war without having a clear goal.

With regards to Syria, Markey said the first step is to establish that chemical weapons were actually used. After that, he said, “The most important thing is for the United States to have an end game. We did not have one in Iraq. There must be a clear goal, which is articulate.”

Markey said if the U.S. has a clear goal, he would be open to use of some kind of military force, other than the use of ground troops or a no-fly zone. “If there are discreet ways that we can work to ensure that Assad does not use chemical weapons, I’d be open to hearing the argument for the use of American military technology,” he said.

Markey said it would be best for Obama to have support from Congress before taking military action. He said the United States should also act together with its allies. “The U.S. should not be acting unilaterally,” Markey said. He said the U.S. should “bring the world together” to make a statement that the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons is not acceptable.

U.S. Rep. James McGovern, of Worcester, is a strong advocate for human rights, who has also been a critic of American intervention in the Middle East. McGovern voted against the war in Iraq, and has called for ending the war in Afghanistan. McGovern said in a statement that he is “deeply troubled” by the reports that Syria used chemical weapons against its population. Like Markey, he called for careful consideration and coordination with allies.

“If those reports are confirmed, the international community must be united in its response to these grave human rights violations,” McGovern said.

McGovern urged caution in the U.S. response, particularly with regards to military intervention. “That response must pay special attention to avoiding additional civilian casualties to an already-suffering civilian population,” McGovern said. “We must also remain very cautious about military intervention in light of the terrible price our soldiers and their families have already paid in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, of Springfield, said the Syrian civil war “becomes more troublesome each day” and now has the potential to destabilize the entire Mideast region.“ ...reports that the regime of President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons to attack innocent civilians are deeply disturbing and merit swift international condemnation,” Neal said in a statement.

However, like his Massachusetts colleagues, Neal was hesitant to take military action. “While it is clear that Syria needs to be held accountable for its outrageous actions, I believe all diplomatic options need to be explored before President Obama and our allies consider a military response,” Neal said.

The rest of the Massachusetts congressional delegation could not be reached.

The Republican reporter Robert Rizzuto contributed to this story.