Obama Extends Sanctions against Syria

David Streeter — May 4, 2010 – 2:06 pm | Barack Obama | Foreign Policy | Israel | Terrorism Comments (0) Add a comment

Yesterday, President Barack Obama extended existing American sanctions against Syria. Obama said in a statement for members of Congress:

 

“… [Syria’s] actions and polices, including continuing support for terrorist organizations and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue in effect the national emergency declared with respect to this threat and to maintain in force the sanctions to address this national emergency. As we have communicated to the Syrian government directly, Syrian actions will determine whether this national emergency is renewed or terminated in the future.”

 

Following Obama’s announcement, Ian Black wrote in The Guardian:

 

Hopes of a rapprochement between the US and Syria have again been dashed by Washington’s decision to renew, for another year, the economic sanctions Bashar al-Assad had hoped would end.

The Syrian president can hardly have been surprised. In recent weeks there has been little evidence of the “outstretched hand” Barack Obama proffered when he came to office.

Nor has Damascus ticked the main boxes on Washington’s wishlist. Not only has Assad failed to distance himself from Iran or loosen ties with Hamas and Hezbollah, he has also flaunted these alliances, hosting a summit with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Nasrallah [of Hezbollah].

 

In sum, Obama is continuing his tough stance against Syrian provocations in the Middle East.

 

As usual though, right-wingers have chosen to ignore the facts and continue their political posturing over foreign relations.

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