Atrocities in Syria
Stop Assad
Regarding “Chemical attack in Syria stirs outrage” (Page A1, Wednesday), more than 500,000 people have been killed in Syria mostly due to Assad regime crimes — shelling, torture, starvation, dehydration. Now a chemical attack in Idlib killed at least 58 and injured more than 300. More egregiously, the hospital treating the chemical weapons survivors was also targeted. This heinous act came just days after White House press secretary Sean Spicer made disturbing remarks stating that the U.S. will no longer call for the removal of Bashar Assad from power in Syria. Similar statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley essentially, meant a green light for Assad.
The world must take bolder steps against the dictator Assad to protect civilians. Russia and Iran, which are key Assad enablers, deserve censure and consequences. I believe Americans can take an active role to protect civilians in Syria by contacting their congressional representatives and demanding accountability for the chemical attack. Legislation in Congress, the “Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2017,” that calls for sanctions against Assad and safezone protection for civilians is worthwhile.
As long as there is no political leadership to address Assad’s criminal regime, we can unfortunately expect to see the horrors and death toll mount. We need to heed an important history lesson of people getting gassed to death: Never again. Shireen Jasser, president, Syrian American Council, Houston Chapter