America
Gabbard declines to call Syria's Assad a war criminal
Washington, March 11
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu US Congresswoman and Democratic 2020 presidential candidate, said that she believed her past comments on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been misunderstood, declining to call him a war criminal.
Gabbard was pressed during a CNN interview on Sunday whether she believed Assad used chemical warfare against Syrian civilians.
"I want to correct that because there has been some misunderstanding," the Hawaii Representative said.
"There have been reports showing that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, both by the Syrian Government as well as different terrorist groups on the ground in Syria.
"The scepticism and the questions that I raised were very specific around incidents that the Trump administration was trying to use as an excuse to launch a US military attack in Syria," she added.
Gabbard met Assad in Syria two years ago. She said last month that Assad was "not the enemy of the US because Syria does not pose a direct threat" to Washington.
When asked if she was unsure whether Assad was a war criminal now, Gabbard said: "Everything that I have said requires that we take action based on evidence. (If) the evidence is there, there should be accountability."
Gabbard cited her experience serving in Iraq as informing her approach to Syria.
"I served in a war in Iraq, a war that was launched based on lies, and a war that was launched without evidence," she said. "And so the American people were duped."
Gabbard was pressed during a CNN interview on Sunday whether she believed Assad used chemical warfare against Syrian civilians.
"I want to correct that because there has been some misunderstanding," the Hawaii Representative said.
"There have been reports showing that chemical weapons have been used in Syria, both by the Syrian Government as well as different terrorist groups on the ground in Syria.
"The scepticism and the questions that I raised were very specific around incidents that the Trump administration was trying to use as an excuse to launch a US military attack in Syria," she added.
Gabbard met Assad in Syria two years ago. She said last month that Assad was "not the enemy of the US because Syria does not pose a direct threat" to Washington.
When asked if she was unsure whether Assad was a war criminal now, Gabbard said: "Everything that I have said requires that we take action based on evidence. (If) the evidence is there, there should be accountability."
Gabbard cited her experience serving in Iraq as informing her approach to Syria.
"I served in a war in Iraq, a war that was launched based on lies, and a war that was launched without evidence," she said. "And so the American people were duped."
8 hours ago
The BioInnovation Institute and Science presented the Innovation Prize to Indian American Aditya Kunjapur
9 hours ago
Pennsylvania Republican primary results show Haley with over 150,000 votes.
9 hours ago
Mandates airline refunds and fee transparency introduced by Biden
9 hours ago
Initiative to tackle newborn malnutrition in rural India promoted by the Indian Consulate in NY
9 hours ago
In Los Angeles, a high-ranking US diplomat convenes with the Jain community
9 hours ago
The Peabody Award has nominated two Indian documentaries as finalists.
just now
10 hours ago
Indian rupee to appreciate to Rs 82–82.50 in FY25: CARE Ratings
10 hours ago
Reservation given earlier to Muslim community continued in K’taka: CM Siddaramaiah
10 hours ago
Congress, SP playing divisive politics, says PM Modi in Agra
11 hours ago
Nestle India’s net profit up 27 pc in Q4; to form a JV with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories
11 hours ago
BMW's another all-electric car launched in India
11 hours ago
Cong candidate in Kerala suspects foul play as list of poll officials leaked, one suspended