Bipartisan Resolution Says Assad Has Lost Legitimacy
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today joined a bipartisan group of senators in introducing a resolution strongly condemning the escalating crackdown in Syria, warning that President Bashar Al Assad has lost legitimacy and urging President Obama to ratchet up the pressure on his regime. The resolution, introduced by Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), is also cosponsored by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH).
"The Syrian government has unleashed devastating violence on its own people" said Senator Casey. "We should stand in solidarity with the Syrian people during this dark period in the country's history and support their efforts to bring about democratic change."
The bipartisan resolution calls for the expansion of targeted U.S. sanctions against Syrian officials responsible for human rights abuses, including against President Assad personally, and for the Obama Administration to work at the United Nations Security Council to hold Syrian human rights abusers accountable. The resolution also expresses unambiguous support for the aspirations of the Syrian people, as they continue peaceful protests in the streets of cities and towns across their country despite a dramatically heightened campaign of barbaric violence against them by the Syrian regime, and urges President Obama to speak out directly and personally about the situation in Syria.
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