The Obama administration has not yet decided whether to provide arms to selected elements of the Syrian opposition and fears that introducing more weapons will only prolong the civil war with even worse consequences for Syrian civilians, a top US diplomat said Thursday, Nov. 29.

Robert Ford, the US ambassador to Syria who left Damascus in February when the fighting made it too dangerous for American diplomats to remain, discussed US strategy toward Syria in detail Thursday at a Washington forum ostensibly devoted to the Syrian humanitarian crisis and the US response.

Asked about published reports that the Obama administration is considering increasing its involvement in the military aspects of the Syrian conflict by sending weapons directly to rebel groups, Ford said “the president has never taken the provision of arms off the table” but that the US priority remains a political deal between the opposition and members of the government that “do not have blood on their hands.”

“Arms are a tactic, not a strategy,” Ford said. “We think that a military solution is not the best way for Syria. Efforts to win this by conquering one side or another will simply prolong the violence and aggravate an already terrible humanitarian situation.”