For the first time in his presidency, Donald Trump called out Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection to a chemical gas attack in Syria that killed at least 70 dead and more injured.
From The New York Times:
President Trump on Sunday promised a “big price” to be paid for what he said was a chemical weapons attack that choked dozens of Syrians to death the day before, and a top White House official said the administration would not rule out a missile strike to retaliate against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
In a tweet, Mr. Trump laid the blame for the attack partly on President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, the first time since his election that he has criticized the Russian leader by name on Twitter. Mr. Putin’s forces have been fighting for years to keep the Assad government in power amid Syria’s brutal civil war.
Mr. Trump also left no doubt that he believed the assessment of aid groups that Mr. Assad’s military had used chemical weapons to inflict the carnage on Saturday in Douma, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus.
The Times goes on to report that the White House has not ruled out a missile strike response among options available to the U.S.
The United Nations Security Council has announced it will hold emergency meeting Monday in light of the chemical attack.
According to reports, Trump has been mulling over pulling all U.S. military out of Syria. Observers are now curious to see if the Donald follows through on that considering these developments.
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
....to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
.@POTUS's pledge to withdraw from #Syria has only emboldened Assad, backed by Russia & Iran, to commit more war crimes in #Douma. @POTUS responded after last year's chemical attack. He should do so again & make Assad pay a price for his brutality. https://t.co/u30kF0ww8g— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) April 8, 2018
Your telegraphed intention to withdraw from Syria and disregard for basic human rights is worse than Obama’s unenforced red line. You enabled Assad and Putin’s escalating mass atrocities against Syrian children and other civilians. Now, you bear responsibility. https://t.co/X0DJXIKkCm— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) April 8, 2018
And, of course, war hawk Sen. Lindsey Graham wants to go to war so bad:
After Pres. Trump tweeted about the apparent chemical attack in Syria, Sen. Lindsey Graham tells @MarthaRaddatz: “If [the president] doesn’t follow through and live up to that tweet, he’s going to look weak in the eyes of Russia and Iran. This is a defining moment.” pic.twitter.com/hzWihueyfq— ABC News (@ABC) April 8, 2018
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