President Trump made it a point Friday night to specifically call out Russia, a supporter of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, in announcing strikes in response to Damascus’ use of chemical weapons against civilians.
“I also have a message tonight for the two governments most responsible for supporting, equipping, and financing the criminal Assad regime,” Trump said. “To Iran, and to Russia, I ask: What kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women, and children?”
The president wasn’t done. “The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep,” he said. “No nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states, brutal tyrants, and murderous dictators.”
Trump has taken a hard line on Iran throughout his presidency and is threatening to pull out of the nuclear deal his predecessor struck with Tehran. His administration has played out against the backdrop of an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He has been slow at times to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Not in the context of Syria, however. “In 2013, President Putin and his government promised the world that they would guarantee the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons,” Trump said. “Assad’s recent attack — and today’s response — are the direct result of Russia’s failure to keep that promise.”
Trump gave Putin an ultimatum. “Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace,” he said. “Hopefully, someday we’ll get along with Russia, and maybe even Iran — but maybe not.”
The White House released a statement afterward characterizing Russia and Iran as part of a “cadre of willing enablers.”
“The Trump Administration has made it clear that Russia and Iran share responsibility for the brutal actions of the Assad regime,” the statement read. “The United States will not be fooled by another Russian disinformation campaign trying to deflect the blame.”
“Russian claims that Assad has eliminated his chemical weapons program are clearly untrue,” the White House added. “Due to its inability – or refusal – to curb Assad’s crimes, Russia must assume responsibility for his behavior.”
Trump had tweeted against Russia’s coziness with the Assad regime earlier in the week. “President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad,” he wrote in response to the chemical weapons attack. “Big price…”
Since then, there has been a delay in operations against Syria, which ended Friday night. There have reportedly been disagreements between Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and new national security adviser John Bolton over how to proceed.
In his speech Friday night, Trump tried to lay out a careful vision. Eliminating ISIS was the U.S. military’s number one job in Syria, where America “does not seek an indefinite presence,” the president declared. But the U.S. under Trump will also act periodically to deter chemical weapons attacks by Assad.
“No amount of American blood or treasure can produce lasting peace and security in the Middle East,” Trump said. “It’s a troubled place. We will try to make it better, but it is a troubled place. The United States will be a partner and a friend, but the fate of the region lies in the hands of its own people.”
Yet as the Russia probe intensifies, with Trump’s personal attorney the latest person ensnared, considerable attention will be paid to the president’s willingness to cross Moscow not just in terms of policy — the U.S. bombed Syria on Trump’s orders in response to a previous chemical weapons attack — but also rhetoric.
“We’re, again, confident that both Syria had responsibility in this chemical weapons attack, but we also hold Russia responsible for their failure to stop chemical weapons attacks from taking place,” said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders at Friday’s daily briefing for reporters. She added, “And once again, Russia’s failure to stop them and their continued distraction on this front has been part of the problem.”
