International Community Unite in Opposition to Syria’s Assad

The Takeaway

Yesterday the Obama administration called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.  It was the administration’s strongest statement since the Syrian uprising began. “For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for [Assad] to step aside and leave this transition to Syrians themselves,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.  The U.S. is united with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and a host of European nations in pushing Assad to step down, and that international coalition may prove strong enough in the long term to force the Syrian leader out.  How loudly will the American government’s words echo, as Assad struggles to hold on to power? We’re speaking with  Joshua Landis,    director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma  and author of the blog  Syria Comment,  and  Amer Al Sadeq,  a leading activist for the opposition.

Invest in independent global news

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!