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Romney campaign: Arm Syrian rebels
By Samuel Burke
The international community’s lack of a coherent policy for Syria’s spiraling situation has now allowed the power vacuum to begin to fill with al-Qaeda elements, a senior intelligence official has told Christiane Amanpour. In addition, Jihadi elements are also working to fill that space.
With the radical presence increasing in Syria, calls for Western help to arm the rebels are growing. Wednesday, Mitt Romney’s Senior Foreign Advisor Richard Williamson, reiterated that the Republican presidential candidate believes the U.S. should openly help arm the opposition – a stance the Obama administration rejects and White House spokesman Jay Carney in late May said would add to the “chaos and carnage” in Syria.
In an interview with Christiane Amanpour, Williamson said, “This has gone on for seventeen months and early on Governor Romney said we should have people working with the opposition, trying to identify the moderate forces and help them unify.”
But when Amanpour pressed Richardson on other options to try and weaken Assad, he said Romney is reluctant. “He won’t join his friend John McCain and others who are calling for no fly zones and safe havens.” But he added, “Clearly it’s not something you can put off the table if this goes on.”
Vali Nasr, a former Senior Advisor to the Obama administration admits the U.S. has largely been reactive in Syria. “The conflict keeps metamorphosing into something worse. It goes in new directions, and then we try to come up to answers to what is happening.”
Nasr doesn’t believe the U.S. can continue its policy of non-engagement as Assad continues to lose his grip on power. “The danger now is that the situation in Syria is deteriorating very rapidly, and if we are going to have a policy of reaction to the latest development, then we will be chasing this ball in whatever direction itis going to go and that’s not where we want to be.”
The international community has pointed its fingers at China and Russia for blocking action against Assad by vetoing three resolutions in the U.N. On that matter Romney’s advisor said, “Yes, you work with them. But you don’t allow Russia to determine how the U.S. pursues its interest in Syria and you don’t allow Vladimir Putin to decide if you’re going to protect innocent people in Syria being killed in awful and horrific ways by a regime that’s going out the door.”
Williams echoed a chorus of criticism that is rising against the Obama Administration, accusing the U.S. of using Russia’s opposition to intervention in Syria as a convenient shield to postpone any action until after the November elections.
The hollowing of America’s middle class
The premise of the "American Dream" is that each generation of children will be more successful than their parents. It defines America and it's what has attracted so many immigrants from around the world. But the reality is that in recent years, the U.S. has become one of the world's most unequal countries, with a shrinking opportunity to move up the ladder.
To add to that, a new report due to be unveiled in September, shows poverty will be higher than it has been at any time since 1965 in the U.S.
Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz discussed his new book, “The Price of Inequality," with Christiane Amanpour Monday. Stiglitz says that America's shrinking middle class endangers the very future of the United States.
CNN’s Ken Olshansky produced this piece for television.
Does U.S. have plan for a post-Assad Syria?
Former U.S. National Security Adviser, General Jim Jones tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour the absence of such a plan would have grave consequences – for Syria and the rest of the region.
“It was okay to be surprised by Tunisia for example,” General Jones said. “Maybe you could excuse it a little bit in Egypt. But Syria is a real big strategic country, particularly as it relates to stability in the Middle East. What happens to Lebanon for example if Assad goes? What happens to Iran?”
But does a plan exist? General Jones, a former member of the Obama administration, didn’t confirm it. But he did stress the importance of having one: “Obviously we should have a plan. As a global leader we need to consider what the elements of that plan are.” FULL POST
Is there a plan for a post-Assad Syria?
Former U.S. National Security Adviser, General Jim Jones tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour the absence of such a plan would have grave consequences – for Syria and the rest of the region.
“It was okay to be surprised by Tunisia for example,” General Jones said. “Maybe you could excuse it a little bit in Egypt. But Syria is a real big strategic country, particularly as it relates to stability in the Middle East. What happens to Lebanon for example if Assad goes? What happens to Iran?”
But does a plan exist? General Jones, a former member of the Obama administration, didn’t confirm it. But he did stress the importance of having one: “Obviously we should have a plan. As a global leader we need to consider what the elements of that plan are.” FULL POST
Gun crazy in America / Priest expelled from Syria / Fleeing to Iraq
The latest full-length edition of Amanpour is now online: Part 1 Gun crazy in America: A debate about gun control laws in America and a look at how they stack up internationally. Part 2: Priest expelled from Syria Father Paolo Dall'Oglio, a Jesuit priest, discusses his expulsion from Syria for supporting the opposition. Part 3: Between Iraq and a hard place: Iraqi refugees who fled to Syria during the height of the Iraq war are now returning to Iraq.
Gun crazy in America
Gun law expert Alan Korwin and the New Yorker's Adam Gopnik on whether America can change its gun culture.
Jesuit priest expelled from Syria
Exclusive interview with Father Paolo Dall'Oglio who was kicked out of Syria for supporting the opposition.
Between Iraq and a hard place
Christiane Amanpour looks at how Iraqi refugees are affected by the Syrian uprising and if they are better off back home.
Gun crazy in America
By Christiane Amanpour
After a heated discussion on gun control on our program, both my guests reached a point of agreement; that a larger debate on the Second Amendment must continue. This would seem fitting, given a Pew poll shows Americans are practically evenly split over gun control: 45% in favor, while 49% are against.
One of the aspects of this debate I find exceptionally important is that while some blame the culture in America, in Europe they watch the same movies. Yet, they have hade many fewer mass shootings. And after each one of these attacks they have implemented and legislated change and a tightening up of gun laws, which has worked and cut down the violence significantly.
One of the guests in our debate tonight, Alan Korwin insists we should all be armed – you can watch his perspective, and the fascinating conversation we had, in the video above.
LIBOR hurts you
The full-length edition of Amanpour is online: Part 1 Was it a suicide bomb? Ali Velshi speaks to a journalist in Damascus about the lack of physical evidence around the deaths of top official in Syria. Part 2: LIBOR hurts you. Journalist Matt Taibbi looks at how LIBOR affects you. Part 3: Friends close, enemies closer A look at the Assad family in Syria:
Was it a suicide bomb?
Ali Velshi speaks to a journalist in Damascus about the lack of evidence around the deaths of top official in Syria.
How Libor hurts you
Journalist Matt Taibbi looks at how LIBOR scandal exposes a rigged banking system.
Assad's poisoned family tree
Ali Veshi takes a close look at the Assad family in Syria.
How does Assad survive?
By Lucky Gold
They really don’t believe what they saw on state television
Dutch journalist Sander van Hoorn was on the ground in Syria again on Thursday and provided an update on the confusing situation there.
Referring to Wednesday’s bombing that killed three of President Assad’s inner circle, van Hoorn said “much is still unclear and I’m afraid will stay that way.”
“I speak to a lot of people here that really don’t believe what they saw on state television.... They say it may all have been pre-recorded. So there’s a lot of doubts if the events that took place yesterday actually were really a suicide attack.”
Asked what might have taken place, van Hoorn said, “Basically, two things you hear might be true – that they (Assad’s ministers) died before and that they had to put something into motion to make it look like they were killed in a suicide blast. The other speculation is that something might have happened, right there, right then, but not a suicide. Maybe a murder by some elements of the regime against others.”
Given the uncertainty, he was asked if the regime is still in control: “Well, if you listen to the sounds they are,” said van Hoorn. “The biggest sounds are the thuds of the artillery fire. The president’s picture I guess in the suburbs they will tear it down…But here in the center of Damascus they (Assad’s pictures) are firmly in place.” FULL POST
Attacks in Bulgaria and Syria
The latest full-length edition of Amanpour is online: Part 1: Was Iran behind the Bulgaria blast? Israel's Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor says the country has indications Iran was behind the Bulgarian explosion. Part 2: Assassinations in Syria As Assad confidants are killed in Damascus, Christiane Amanpour talks with a reporter on the ground and a former Syrian general.
Was Iran behind the Bulgarian bus blast?
Israel's Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor says the country has indications Iran was behind the Bulgarian explosion.
Assassinations in Syria
Christiane Amanpour talks with a reporter on the ground in Syria and a former Syrian general.
In wake of Damascus killings, a bizarre scene
By Ken Olshansky
If, indeed, an attack took place...
CNN - Dutch journalist Sander van Hoorn was on the ground in Syria today, reporting on the deadly attack in Damascus that killed four top officials in Bashar Assad’s inner circle. His take? “It was the most bizarre scene.”
The attack took place in the heart of Damascus. And Van Hoorn reports, “Nobody has given me a good explanation for how it could be that only one hundred meters from the site of the supposed blast, people were just acting as if nothing had happened.
The key words there are ‘the supposed blast.’ When asked about conflicting reports of what actually happened, Van Hoorn said this: “I was in the hotel, so I should have been able to hear it. I didn’t.” FULL POST
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