US President Donald Trump called a chemical attack in the Syrian province Idlib an “affront to humanity” that has changed his attitude toward Syria and the country’s President.
US President Donald Trump (Photo: AP / Paul Sancya)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government have gone “beyond a red line” with their chemical attack on civilians in Idlib province, US President Donald Trump said, adding that his attitude toward Syria and the country’s President had changed. At the same time, Trump did not mention how he would respond. The statements were made during a news conference with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Wednesday.
During the news conference in the Rose Garden, Trump called the alleged chemical attack in the Syrian province of Idlib an “affront to humanity.”
“Yesterday’s chemical attack, a chemical attack so horrific in Syria against innocent people including women, small children, and even beautiful little babies, their deaths was an affront to humanity. These heinous actions by the Assad regime cannot be tolerated,” the US President said.
Trump stressed that the attack, which claimed lives of 80 people, including children, “crosses many, many lines.” The Reuters news agency and other media noted that in this way Trump tried to refer to the “red line” that his predecessor, President Barack Obama, had drawn, threatening to topple Assad with airstrikes in case of continued usage of chemical weapons.
“I will tell you, what happened yesterday is unacceptable to me,” Trump told reporters. “And I will tell you, it’s already happened that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much,” he added.
The statement was made just a few days after the White House declared that it would be “silly” to persist in trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
Trump blamed Obama for the attack, saying his predecessor’s failure to respond to a similar attack in 2013 opened the door for future strikes. “I think the Obama administration had a great opportunity to solve this crisis a long time ago when he said the red line in the sand,” Trump said. “And when he didn’t cross that line after making the threat, I think that set us back a long way, not only in Syria but in many parts of the world.”
When the US President was asked at an earlier meeting whether he was formulating a new policy on Syria, he answered: “You’ll see.”
In an interview with the New York Times newspaper ahead of the press conference, the US President was asked what the chemical attack meant for Russia’s role in the Syrian conflict as a supporter of Assad.
“I think it’s a very sad day for Russia because they’re aligned [with the Syrian government], and in this case, all information points to Syria that they [the Syrian government] did this,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, answering a question whether it was time to renew the call for Assad to be ousted and safe zones be established in Syria, US Vice President Mike Pence told the Fox News TV-channel: “But let me be clear, all options are on the table.”
On Tuesday, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces reported that 80 civilians were killed and 200 others were injured in the chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun city in Idlib province. Oppositionists blamed the Syrian government forces for the attack. The Syrian Army’s Command resolutely rejected the accusations and blamed militants and their patrons for the attack.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Syrian Air Force carried out an airstrike in the vicinity of Khan Shaykhun, targeting a terrorists’ ammunition depot, where arsenals of chemical weapons were stored. Presumably, these weapons should have been delivered to Iraq. The UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have already taken up an investigation of the incident, but they still have not published any conclusions about possible perpetrators of the attack.
Earlier, Assad said that the Syrian government did not use weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons, against its own people. The Syrian President reminded that in 2013, Damascus agreed to destroy its chemical weapons storage facilities and today has no reserves of this type of weapons.
Well there we go …. it took this bastard no less than 4 months to sell out and give in to Zionist pressure.
Yup, a sad day indeed. We finally reached the point where we can no longer say, well, at least Hillary would have been worse.
Trump is too ignorant of world affairs to draw his own conclusions so is parroting EU leaders so he doesn’t look like a dumbass.
It was bound to happen. While no great fan it did give a tad bit of hope for a short period. With no reason to support this stooge any longer ( I would imagine many others feeling the same way) perhaps it will only be a few short months before the leftist efforts to remove him pay off. I again cant imagine where he would find any support now.
until things happen, words mean nothing.
America will NOT support this Neocon War! Trumps True Colors are clear and viable!
Yes, Americans who follow the news probably won’t support an escalation of military action in Syria. Then there is the large percentage of the population that can’t form their own opinion or are just too apathetic about what is happening anywhere. They will not care if these perpetual wars benefit only a few people. As long as most people can stare at an iPhone, have sports, entertainment, a lottery ticket and are well fed, they will care about little else. Sad but true. It is obvious that President Trump is under a lot of pressure from within his own party and the invisible hands that direct US foreign policy. I think he was even shown film footage of the JFK assassination just to put fear into him.
While what you say is true, its a bit out of context. The vast majority wont care because they should not care as this should have nothing to do with us. That being said because we are up to our eye balls in this crap I would hope a few pay attention, but thats where the apathy comes in. I don’t believe the US will ever pay attention until they have a serious wake up call. By then may be to late.
USA/Nato has cross many countries borders illegally.Chemical attack is USA/Nato excused to attack.This attack will be start by Turkey that is the current game plan.After CIA meeting this this old white ghost is totally berserk.Let Trump attack North Korea and Syria to fulfil his white Racist monopoly the after effect of Hitler.Why is this racist sick white countries not making war in their own countries.
What’s Trump going to say when he finds out they were not attacks by the “Assad régime” but by detonation of the jihadis’ own chemical weapons? Will he then change his attitude to these hitherto western-supported fanatics?
No he won’t, he is actually more stupid than he looks and a coward throughout. Fake news, fake President.
The ‘asshole’ is quite prepared with crocodile tears in laying the blame on Syria/Russia knowing full well that the US is behind it all and conveniently dismissing their atrocities in Mosul and Yemen. Trump looks like a jerk and a piece of dung.