UPDATE: President Trump made the following remarks prior to a Cabinet meeting at the White House Monday.
"We'll be making that decision very quickly. Probably by the end of today. We cannot allow atrocities like that," Trump said. "Nothing is off the table."
“It was atrocious. It was horrible," he continued. “This is about humanity and it can’t be allowed to happen.”
“If it’s the Russians, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out.”
***Original Post***
Over the weekend Syrian President Bashir al-Assad launched another chemical weapons attack against innocent civilians. This time, it was in the city of Douma. Hundreds were injured and at least 150 people have been killed.
In reaction to the attack, President Trump directly called out Assad and President Vladimir Putin for the atrocity. He also warned a "big price" will be paid for the attack.
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
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
UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is also hammering this message.
We along with 8 other members have called for an emergency Security Council mtg tomorrow in reference to the horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians in Syria. This is becoming all too common. Strong action is needed. pic.twitter.com/Vt3L5fjVla
— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) April 8, 2018
Last year almost to the day, President Trump ordered the U.S. military to launch 60 Tomahawk cruise missiles into Syria after an Assad ordered chemical attack in Khan Shaykhun.
"On Tuesday, President Bashir al-Assad, launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many," President Trump said at the time. "Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread or use of deadly chemical weapons."
President Trump- "Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched." pic.twitter.com/D4qmenEsXg
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) April 7, 2017
No word yet on how the United States will respond to the most recent attack, but Secretary of Defense James Mattis says nothing is off the table for consideration.
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