Obama Calls On Syria's Assad To Resign

A written statement.

The United States opposes the use of violence against peaceful protesters in Syria, and we support the universal rights of the Syrian people. We have imposed sanctions on President Assad and his government. The European Union has imposed sanctions as well. We helped lead an effort at the UN Security Council to condemn Syria’s actions. We have coordinated closely with allies and partners from the region and around the world. The Assad government has now been condemned by countries in all parts of the globe, and can look only to Iran for support for its brutal and unjust crackdown.

The future of Syria must be determined by its people, but President Bashar al-Assad is standing in their way. His calls for dialogue and reform have rung hollow while he is imprisoning, torturing, and slaughtering his own people. We have consistently said that President Assad must lead a democratic transition or get out of the way. He has not led. For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.

Like they did with Libya, the administration then sent out Hillary Clinton to say on camera what Obama was too disinterested or afraid to say himself.

Apparently we're not going to actually do anything to directly help the opposition.

As for Syrian opposition to Assad, Admin officials say the US will provide it with "strong moral support."

So Assad better get out or Obama will issue a strongly worded tweet!

It's amazing that President "Words Matter" refuses to actually say something in this type of case where we know the words of a President can actually matter.

This isn't easy stuff but Obama really has a knack for waiting to long to act and then doing the wrong thing. Turns out "Smart Power" isn't very smart or powerful.

posted by DrewM. at 11:56 AM

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