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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Obama Reiterates Syria Intervention Policy

Michael Juliani |
March 22, 2013 | 2:32 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

A vivid cartoon of Bashar Assad. (Wikimedia Commons)
A vivid cartoon of Bashar Assad. (Wikimedia Commons)

President Barack Obama repeated his interest in keeping U.S. military forces out of the Syrian conflict while visiting Jordan on Friday, according to the L.A. Times.

President Obama was at a news conference with Jordan's King Abdullah II where both men were questioned about their plans regarding Syria and President Bashar Assad's push to maintain power.

"When we are working with the Syrians themselves, so this is not externally imposed but rather something that is linked directly with the aspirations and hopes of the people inside of Syria, it will work better," Obama said. We are going to continue to use every lever and every bit of influence that we have to affect the situation inside of Syria."

He also reiterated that if Assad's regime uses chemical weapons, it will be a "game changer" in the U.S. policy regarding intervention.

"So, this is part of the reason why, for the American people, we've got to recognize we have a stake," Obama said. "It's tragic. It's heartbreaking. And the sight of children and women being slaughtered that we've seen so much I think has to compel all of us to say, 'What more can we do?' And that's a question that I'm asking as president every single day."

He added that the U.S. will send $200 million more in humanitarian aid to Jordan to help Syrian refugees who make it across the border.

 

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage of Syria here.

Reach Executive Producer Michael Juliani here.



 

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