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August 22, 2013

U.S. Awaits Evidence on Syria Claims; Protesters Stage White House Rally 
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The potential chemical attack in Syria comes around one year after
President Obama declared that the Assad regime's use of toxic weapons
would cross a "red line." At the White House, deputy spokesperson Josh
Earnest said the U.S. will consult with its allies and await further
evidence.

Josh Earnest: "We have seen these reports, we have consulted with some
of our partners in the region about these reports, but that is why we
are calling for this U.N. investigation to be conducted. There is an
investigation team that is on the ground in Syria right now and we are
hopeful that the Assad regime will follow through on what they have
claimed previously, that they are interested in a credible investigation
that gets to the bottom of reports that chemical weapons have been used,
so again, it's time for the Assad regime to live up their rhetoric in
this regard."

Outside the White House on Wednesday night, a group of Syrian-Americans
opposed to the Assad regime gathered to urge a strong international
response to the alleged attack.

Yehia Saad: "The problem is the longer President Obama takes to act or
do something, more extremists are going to come into county and more
people are going to ruin my country, and, the longer Assad and his
regime and Iran and Hezbollah and Russia and China have to destroy my
country. So, action needs to be taken now."

Sima Abed Rabboh: "This is injustice and it's been happening at the eyes
and ears of the international community and nobody has been doing
anything. These children could be your children, could be my children."

 

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