Bashar Assad

Saturday September 13, 2014

Saturday September 13, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 13, 2014

Syrian National Coalition eager for Obama’s help to topple ISIS, Assad

Syria’s main Western-backed opposition group on Thursday welcomed President Barack Obama’s authorization of U.S. airstrikes targeting Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), saying it stands “ready and willing” to partner with the international community to defeat the extremists.

But the Syrian National Coalition said that equally important was the realization that fighting ISIS alone is not enough and should be coupled with degrading and ultimately removing President Bashar Assad’s regime.

“The Syrian Coalition … stands ready and willing to partner with the international community not only to defeat ISIS but also rid the Syrian people of the tyranny of the Assad regime,” said the Coalition’s chief Hadi Bahra.

In a prime-time address to the nation from the White House, Obama announced he was authorizing U.S. airstrikes inside Syria for the first time, along with expanded strikes in Iraq as part of “a steady, relentless effort” to root out Islamic State extremists and their spreading reign of terror.

He also urged Congress anew to authorize a program to train and arm Syrian rebels who are fighting both the Islamic State militants and Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“We will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are,” Obama declared. “That means I will not hesitate to take action against [ISIS] in Syria, as well as Iraq.” (Source: CBC News)

Tuesday June 18, 2013

Tuesday June 18, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday June 18, 2013

‘Thugs’ vs. cannibals as Putin and Harper Trade Barbs

This week’s G8 summit at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, got off to the worst possible start as talks between the two leaders immediately stalled.

Putin refused to stop providing arms to Bashar al-Assad and rebuked Cameron and U.S. President Barack Obama for aiding the rebels fighting the Syrian leader.

“You will not deny that one does not really need to support the people who not only kill their enemies, but open up their bodies, eat their intestines in front of the public and cameras,” Putin said at a press conference. “Are these the people you want to support?”

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was equally blunt ahead of the G8 meeting, saying that Putin, Assad’s only big-power ally at the G8 table, was supporting thugs.

“We are not, unless there is a big shift in position on his part, going to get a common position with him at the G8.”

The United States said last week it would step up military aid to Syrian rebels — a move which officials said would involve supplying the Western-backed Supreme Military Council with automatic weapons, light mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

The European Union has also dropped its arms embargo on Syria, allowing France and Britain to arm the rebels, though the two countries say they have no immediate plans to do so. (Source: The National Post)