#_uuid:164f1dff-59fb-33f8-bac3-617a67e3acd9 | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

michaelwalshblog-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Trump calls out Putin for backing ‘Animal Assad’ in Syria

Donald Trump, Bashar Assad and Vladimir Putin. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Image, Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, Halil el-Abdullah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

President Trump blamed Russia and Iran for backing Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after reports of further suffering for Syrian civilians at the hands of their own government — calling out Vladimir Putin specifically.

Trump delivered his critique of the Russian leader during a Sunday morning tweet-storm that covered a variety of topics and struck out at more common targets of Trump’s anger, such as the U.S. news media and former President Barack Obama.

According to Syrian medical groups, Assad’s government launched a chemical attack against civilians in the rebel-held town of Douma in eastern Ghouta late Saturday — killing dozens. The Syrian government denies the reports and claims the rebels are fabricating news.

In response, Trump coined a new nickname for the Syrian president, “Animal Assad,” and said Putin has a “big price to pay,” despite his well-known reluctance to criticize the Russian president.

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

Trump also condemned Obama for failing to take action to end the protracted Syrian Civil War after drawing a proverbial “red line” over the use of chemical weapons.

If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

In 2013, the Syrian military used chemical weapons against its own people — killing nearly 1,500 civilians. Critics said Obama’s controversial decision not to retaliate with the military humiliated the U.S. and emboldened Russian aggression in the region. His supporters, however, generally argue that avoiding further violence was the better choice of two bad options.

Trump’s penchant for demeaning nicknames and disparaging political enemies is well-known, but his hitherto refusal to criticize Putin has been cause for concern to many Americans. Last month, Trump said that he congratulated Putin on his reelection during a “very good call” and expects to meet with him in the “not-to-distant future.”