AP Sources: US to tell Assad that he must go

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is preparing to explicitly demand the departure of Syrian President Bashar Assad and hit his regime with tough new sanctions, U.S. officials said on Tuesday as the State Department signaled for the first time that American efforts to engage the government are finally over.

The White House is expected to lay out the tougher line by the end of this week, possibly on Thursday, according to officials who said the move will be a direct response to Assad's decision to step up the ruthlessness of the crackdown against pro-reform demonstrators by sending tanks into opposition hotbeds. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations.

President Barack Obama and other top U.S. officials previously had said Assad has "lost legitimacy" as a leader and that he either had to spearhead a transition to democracy or get out of the way. They had not specifically demanded that he step down. The new formulation will make it clear that Assad can no longer be a credible reformist and should leave power, the officials said.

At the same time, the Treasury Department is expected to expand sanctions against Assad and his inner circle, adding several new companies to a financial blacklist that will freeze any assets they have in U.S. jurisdictions and ban Americans from doing business with them, the officials said. They would not identify the firms to be targeted.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jW_gEehwbmk7y0PwrbpGqddUptMQ

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Like that command made any difference with Saddam Hussein and Ghadaffi.

[pinboy3niner]

2. No, but it adds to international pressure

Especially when a growing number of nations are willing to apply sanctions.

It adds to the pressure--and, as slow as the U.S. has been to get there, I'm glad that the U.S. is finally taking this position.

[IamK]

17. It made a difference with weiner... n/t

[Fool Count]

3. Yeah, because that worked so well on Qaddafi they decided

to give this brilliant tactic another go. I presume a no-fly zone over Syria is
to follow.

[TacticalPeek]

4. To Tripoli?

:shrug:

[ixion]

5. After the way it's behaved over the last decade, the US has ZERO moral highground

to decide who has, and who has not "lost legitimacy".

[The Northerner]

8. +1 I could not agree more n/t

[Zynx]

12. I don't recall when a U.S. president shot thousands of his political opponents.

You don't need moral high ground when your opponent is digging themselves a hole.

[sudopod]

13. My face when Central America

:3

[DeSwiss]

15. ....

[Cool Logic]

6. I have no problem us saying it, for it is the right thing to do.

However, I am wary of what options might end up on the table to effect the change we are seeking.

I'm sure Raytheon would be willing to help out with some of their Tomahawks, but they don't give them away for free.

[katty]

7. o yeah that will do the trick...I'm sure he's packing now

[dbt]

9. Or what?

Will Obama negotiate with him?

[Bosonic]

10. Is there any response yet?

[Lucky Luciano]

16. Are those Republicans responding to Obama or Assad? nt

[marasinghe]

11. while Assad's an AAA asshole, i see the US Govt. got its AAA arrogance still in good shape.

fucking murderous hypocrites.

[pampango]

14. BBC: Syria unrest: Assad defiant despite growing pressure

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14470709

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said he will not relent in pursuing "terrorist groups" in the country.

He was speaking after talks with Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu, who had urged Syria to end military operations against civilian demonstrators.

Security forces meanwhile continued the crackdown, and reports say nearly 30 more people were killed.

[Turborama]

18. AP Sources: US to tell Assad that he must go

Source: AP

Wednesday August 10 2011

MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is preparing to explicitly demand the departure of Syrian President Bashar Assad and hit his regime with tough new sanctions, U.S. officials said Tuesday as the State Department signaled for the first time that American efforts to engage the government are finally over.

The White House is expected to lay out the tougher line by the end of this week, possibly on Thursday, according to officials who said the move will be a direct response to Assad's decision to step up the ruthlessness of the crackdown against pro-reform demonstrators by sending tanks into opposition hotbeds. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration deliberations.

President Barack Obama and other top U.S. officials previously had said Assad has "lost legitimacy" as a leader and that he either had to spearhead a transition to democracy or get out of the way. They had not specifically demanded that he step down. The new formulation will make it clear that Assad can no longer be a credible reformist and should leave power, the officials said.

At the same time, the Treasury Department is expected to expand sanctions against Assad and his inner circle, adding several new companies to a financial blacklist that will freeze any assets they have in U.S. jurisdictions and ban Americans from doing business with them, the officials said. They would not identify the firms to be targeted.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9789907

[bowens43]

19. I sure hope Obama

doesn't make another dumbass mistake like did by attacking Libya.

[trud]

20. Obama and Hillary

I;m sure Ms War had a major hand in the Libya situation. Any country against Israel is on her hit list, plus she just loves war.

[mahina]

22. oh come on.

[Syrinx]

21. we've got to sell some bombs for the economy

[rug]

23. That worked well with Qaddaffi.

[trud]

24. We have tons of money and US lives

to throw at yet another country that's none of our business.

Washington isn't lifting a hand to do anything for the US, however.