USA: U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testifies to a Senate committee that it is just a matter of time before Syrian Leader Bashar al-Assad falls from power

Record ID: 280561

  • Title: USA: U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testifies to a Senate committee that it is just a matter of time before Syrian Leader Bashar al-Assad falls from power
  • Date: 1st February 2012
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 31, 2012) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) U.S. INTELLIGENCE SERVICES LEADERS SITTING AT WITNESS TABLE AT THE SENATE SELECT INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE HEARING WIDE VIEW OF COMMITTEE HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR MARK UDALL (DEMOCRAT OF COLORADO), SAYING: "Syria - do you assess that the fall of the al-Assad regime is inevitable at this p
  • Embargoed: 16th February 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA39B9G1BZ87SMK022QMZ9F0UY3
  • Story Text: Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad cannot sustain his hold on power and it is a matter of time before his leadership falls, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said on Tuesday (January 31).
    "I personally believe that it's a question of time before Assad falls, but that's the issue. It could be a long time given the protracted - I think two factors here: just he protraction of these demonstrations. The opposition continues to be fragmented, but I just - I do not see how he can sustain his rule of Syria. And of course post-Assad is - would be exactly the issue. There is question about who would emerge in a post-Assad situation. As far as Iran and Hezbollah, what is transpiring is of course a great concern to them. It's why they are both expending great effort, in terms of resources and advice and this sort of thing, to try to prop up the Assad regime," Clapper said at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.
    CIA Director David Petraeus said Iranian forces were attempting to support Assad to maintain their influence and support for Hezbollah located in Lebanon.
    "Clearly the loss of Syria as a logistics platform, a line of communication into Lebanon to support Hezbollah, would be a substantial setback for Iran in its efforts to use Hezbollah as a proxy, and that is indeed why the Revolutionary Guards corps Quds Force is so engaged in trying to prop up Bashar al-Assad right now," Petraeus said.
    Syrian government forces reasserted control of Damascus suburbs on Tuesday after beating back rebels, and diplomatic pressure mounted on Assad as Western and Arab diplomats pushed for a U.N. Security Council resolution which would call for the Syrian leader to step down.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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