Obama to Up Support for Syrian Rebels

President Barack Obama mounted a defiant defense of his global leadership Wednesday, rebuking critics who see him as weak but warning that not every global threat justifies a U.S. military response.

In a major speech at the West Point military academy, Obama denied U.S. power had ebbed under his watch, after he withdrew troops from Iraq and as he does the same in Afghanistan.

He also pledged to ramp up support for Syrian rebels

"I would betray my duty to you, and to the country we love, if I sent you into harm’s way simply because I saw a problem somewhere in the world that needed fixing, or because I was worried about critics who think military intervention is the only way for America to avoid looking weak," he told the graduates.

Obama has been under increasing pressure to do more to support Syrian rebels battling President Bashar Assad and offer some relief to civilians reeling under strikes including barrel bombings carried out by the regime.

"As frustrating as it is, there are no easy answers – no military solution that can eliminate the terrible suffering anytime soon," Obama said.

"As president, I made a decision that we should not put American troops into the middle of this increasingly sectarian civil war, and I believe that is the right decision.

"But that does not mean we shouldn’t help the Syrian people stand up against a dictator who bombs and starves his people."

Obama said that he would work with lawmakers to ramp up support for the opposition, but did not give details, amid reports the U.S. military will begin openly training rebel forces. The CIA is believed to be carrying out a covert program to train and arm some rebels.

Washington has been loath, however, to send game-changing weapons like anti-aircraft missiles to rebel forces which it fears could fall into the hands of extremists.

Obama also said that terrorism remained the biggest national security threat to the United States and unveiled a new $5 billion fund to equip and train allies on the front lines of the struggle against terrorism, for instance in Africa.