(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon - Human-rights activists and leaders on Capitol Hill are increasingly criticizing the West's tepid response to the Syrian uprising, saying it squanders a vital chance to weaken President Bashar al-Assad and his alliance with Iran. The White House and State Department have issued a series of statements calling for Assad to end a violent crackdown that is believed to have killed hundreds of Syrian demonstrators in recent weeks. But neither Washington nor the EU has mapped out any specific penalties Assad's government would face. This contrasts with the moves the White House and European states took to impose sanctions against Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi after his forces began a military offensive against protesters in February. Syrian democracy activists are calling for UN action as well as sanctions targeting the top members of Assad's government.
2011-04-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive