DPCC Co-Chair David Cicilline Discusses the Assad Regime’s Chemical Weapons Attack with MSNBC's Hallie Jackson
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC), today joined MSNBC's Hallie Jackson to discuss the devastating chemical weapons attack in Syria and Russia's support of the Assad regime. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video:
Click here to watch the video.
The world is looking for American leadership here, and what the United States has to do is obviously make it clear that this conduct cannot be tolerated – that the future of Syria does not include the leadership of Bashar al Assad. Rex Tillerson said the other day it's up to the Syrian people. That's a terrible message. The message has to be: based on the conduct of this brutal leader, who is slaughtering his own people, we do not envision at all a Syria with Bashar al Assad in its leadership. That has to be the message we're transmitting to him and to our allies around the region."
"We have an opportunity now at the National Security Council to show some leadership. We've got to work with our allies to put together a strong coalition to fashion the right response. But it cannot be that the United States leadership on this issue evaporates. We cannot stand by and allow this kind of slaughter to continue. We've got to encourage our allies in the region to actively participate in a thoughtful response to this."
"We have to make it clear that it cannot be the case that the United States or any other civilized country would contemplate that this kind of leader would remain in place, engaged in this kind of barbaric activity against its own people. And we need to be very clear to the Russians that we hold them accountable. They're facilitating this. They're providing the armaments and the weaponry…this is the time [for the United States] to be strong."
"You have to look at what Russia is doing…this is a country led by a brutal tyrant. Russia is supporting Bashar al Assad…I'm concerned about the unwillingness of the President to call out Russia and this admiration he has for Vladimir Putin…This is a moment where Russia needs to be called to account and held responsible for its behavior it's engaged in in Sryia. We need a President who's going to do that in a forceful way [and] help to lead a coalition in a very thoughtful strategic response. The international community has a right to be a little concerned about whether the President of the United States is up to the job in light of this very unusual fondness for Vladimir Putin."