Reports out of Syria say that there has been heavy fighting in the streets of the capital city Damascus in the last two days. It appears that the anti-Assad forces are focusing their attacks on a power plant that supplies electricity to many army bases as well as much of the city. Reports from the scene also say that the Assad forces are using artillery against their opponents even though it means shelling civilian areas of the capital.
In another development, UN "peacekeepers" were able to confirm that the recent mass killing of 80 civilians in another part of the country was carried out by the Assad forces. The Assad regime had asserted that the deaths were caused by terrorists who were seeking to undermine the regime. That lie has now been exposed.
Meanwhile, both the Russians and Chinese continue to take the position that they will block any action by the UN Security Council to authorize any action against the Assad regime. The voice of the USA at least has now been raised to make clear that Assad must depart, but the prospect of anything but words coming from Washington remains dim.
If president Obama is of the view that it is not in the national interests of the USA to help get rid of Assad and to end the bloodshed in Syria, he ought to at least explain to the country why he holds that opinion. It is not enough to campaign and campaign while ignoring this major international issue.
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