russia is not in the business of weakening the assad regime. at this point in time moscow wants to maintain assad and stay as ally with hesbollah. these are the only allies that they have certainly in the middle east. we need to pressure the russians to make sure they drop iran. >> president trump when he was speaking earlier to the attack, or the strike, he said to iran and russia, i ask, what kind of a nation wants to be associated with a mass murderer speaking of syria and mr. bashar assad. the president did not give an ultimateum but put them on notice. the president has been criticized of being soft. clearly he was not in the strike. >> he was not soft at all. and he was confronting the russian and we are waiting to see if they fire back against our missiles and units and it appears they understand that their position in the eastern mediterranean could not hold if they want to confront us. but the principle is simple since the cold war, two super powers have nuclear assets can't clash with each other. and that is impossible and that would b

that is because of the assad regime. we need to remember that everything happening with respect to the murder of these people, innocent people, is the responsibility of the assad regime. we were very confident about the evidence we had. clear. the secretary said he was confident about the intelligence and evidence, that is why we move forward. an active channel with russia that has been used months before the attack and through this strike and afterwards. i cannot comment on anything more specific. >> the current program with what the regime has now? you made an assessment, you have a good idea, in comparison -- >> there is a residual element of the syrian program out there. i believe we took the hard out with the attacks last night. i will not say that they will not be able to conduct a chemical attack in the future, however i suspect they will think hard about it based on the activities of last night. >> president trump tweeted an hour ago "mission accomplished." you left the option open for future strikes in case chem

important one but one that must be followed with a broader strategy that ends the barbarism of the assad regime and hezbollah, iran and the russian air force. >> that's a lot. and the president also stated they were trying to approach dealing with assad and his supporters in syria by basically going after a three-prong approach, militarily and diplomatically and economically. will that three-legged stool work in bashar al assad's mind? >> i believe that bashar al assad is a coward. he has seen now what the united states is capable of. and he understands now that there is a president in the white house that will act on his threats. and so, i think going forward, if this strategy is one that includes sanctioning the assad regime and limiting its ability to kill civilians. there is a bill in the senate foreign relations committee today that has passed the house of representatives that will increase pressure on the assad regime and become conducive to a political solution. i think if congress supports this president and his strategy going forward and if the president, you know, brings back politica

that's because of the assad regime. we need to remember that everything that's happening with respect to the murder of these people, innocent people, is the responsibility of the assad regime. so, we were very confident about the evidence that we had. it was clear and the secretary said yesterday, he was very confident about the intelligence as well as the evidence. that's why we moved forward. >> the two other questions on russia and the size -- >> sure. we have an active deconfliction channel with russia. it's been used months before this and through the strike. i can't comment more on that. >> what size of program the syrian regime has now. you made lots of assessment, you have good idea and lots of target. in comparison. >> there's still a residual element. i believe we took the heart of it out. i'm not going to say they are unable to continue to conduct a chemical attack in the future. i suspect they will think long and hard about it based on the activities last night. >> we have time for a couple more questions. >

what happens next depends on what the assad regime decides to do. reporter: you said earlier you didn't observe any material effect on forces during the strike. can you describe any other effects, electromagnetic or cyber that perhaps targeted coalition aircraft? you observe any activity around remaining strikes that you didn't strike, that suggests perhaps an after action plan to hide or used chemical weapons in some other way? general mckenzie: the syrian response was remarkably ineffective. he had no material impact on the strike. typically began to fire their missiles after the last impact of our last weapon, so no appreciable effect that we know of at this time. activity around other sites, movement of weapons or chemicals? general mckenzie: i don't have that information right now. veryter: you said we are confident about the evidence we have. russia and syria denied chemical weapons were used. i'm wondering why you wouldn't share your evidence with the world. adlai stevenson famously went to the u.n. in 1962 with evidence of the russian buildu

that is because of the assad regime. we need to remember that everything that is happening with respect to the murder of these people, innocent people, is the responsibility of the assad regime. we were confident about the evidence we had. it was clear. the secretary said yesterday he was confident about the intelligence as well is the evidence. that is why we moved forward. activekenzie: we have a deconfliction jenna with russia. it has been used through reporter: the program that the syrian regime has now? you have a good idea and you have lots of targets. gen. mckenzie: i say there is still a residual element of the syrian program. i believe we took the heart of it out with the attacks. i'm not going to say in they will be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future. i think they will think long and hard about enough to the activities of last night. reporter: president trump tweeted mission accomplished, which is starkly not borne out when the phrase has been used. you have left the option open for future strike

there that concern the attack, was carried out, could not be carried out by anybody other than assad regime, and that it was indeed chemical attack. >> -- you are not asking permission from moscow tehran this guy is a puppet of regimes if using weapons moscow knows about it, and they are proving of it the least tactically when david lee miller on golan heights talking about israel's interest in this as well iran wants a land bridge to the border of israel because they want to continue to attack existence of israel russia and iran. >> wonder how we got here how are we in this place we have crossed this red line before, assad used chemical weapons gotten a i with ai in the past, look back this is recent years, of how we haven't followed through punished syria for action, that is why year here let's take a look back at how this was handled. >> we have been very to the assad regime a red line for us is seeing a bunch of overwhelm weapons moving around or being -- >> you can cut the deal that got 100 percent of the chemical weapons out of syria. >> find a solution that actually removes the chemi

what happens going forward has everything to do with the assad regime.t. and we hope he heard that. general, have you had any contact with the russians in the aftermath of these operations? 0r russians in the aftermath of these operations? or are you russians in the aftermath of these operations? 0rare you planning russians in the aftermath of these operations? or are you planning to have such contacts in the next few hours? the deconstruction channel we and the russians use is operated frequently over the past few months and continued leading up to this strike. and in a routine basis after the strike. the three targets, with a manufacturing or researching chlorine or sarin gas? a little of both and particularly with the barza target but a little of both. to any of these facilities have any other non—military application? of these facilities have any other non-military application? no, this is what they do presently, there might be other activities that they carry on but this is the core activity. he said none of the russian air defences were turned on,

but i would assume that the united states and the united kingdom and france would only target assad regimed specifically those of a 100% can verify our assad's assets. even if there is an asset that we believe is controlled by syrian forces, we may not decide to target that just by syrian forces, we may not decide to target thatjust because it could be serviced by russian service members, and we would not want to be killing them, that would most certainly elicit a more hostile response from moscow, perhaps not in syria but elsewhere in the world, but that would be a dangerous situation and i don't think that is on the table. my colleague here in the studio talk about the timing and whether there was enough time to recall parliament in order to make a decision about this attack, and in fa ct decision about this attack, and in fact when the syrian government attack on the suburb of douma happened, i believe there was a question about whether a country such as france and the united kingdom and the united dates had all their assets in place to be able to carry out those kinds of strikes. so pr

supporters hold noisy demonstrations of defiance in damascus meanwhile syria rebels fighting the assad regime and the western strikes were a fast as long as assad stayed in power. that sentiment was echoed by residents of it led province a rebel stronghold in the northwest of the country. the u.s. strike was unsuccessful it was useless on the international stage it's of the regime the regime computerized sofa successfully resisting the americans this strike was in the interests of the americans and not in the interests of the opposition or the syrian revolution. this strike is like all the others before it they were fruitless there will be no results until they get rid of bashar al assad and the regime might mean if they don't get rid of them there will be no results these strikes will just encourage the regime. they struck suggest theatrical there and if i wanted to help us they would have done so at the beginning of the war either they give us air defense systems or they rid us of the head of the regime the criminal basher al assad there is no hope. and just a while ago i spoke to danny mak

is quite mixed i have met people who like the assad regime but i certainly have met many think that perhaps he is the lesson of the two evils there is also a certain amount of war fatigue business set in and assad in many ways is managed to convince people that it's either him or the extremists partly because there have been extremists fighting against assad also because assad's narrative in many ways is one so those people will not be happy in fact if you've seen some sort of protests happen within the regime control or severe anti american protest but those who supported the rebels and who wanted a change in the sit in political system would welcome such a move provided it is based on a broader strategy and does bring a broader change to the things and the situation in syria and it's not just of be sitting exercised by the united states of america and its western allies of these people would want us to leave or to have some sort of a political say or to have some of these areas under their control so the political situation move forward in a way that they would like i say you have

government agreed on the need to take action to deter the further use of chemical weapons by assad's regime president of france said he's spoken with donald trump several times this week and now says he has proof that the syrian regime did use poison gas meanwhile forces on both sides are getting ready. the destroyers the u.s.s. donald cook and the u.s.s. porter have been positioned off the syrian coast but if and when they'll get the order to strike is not yet clear. after this bellicose tweet us president donald trump is holding back for the time being we're looking very very seriously very closely at that whole situation and. we'll see what happens folks we'll see what happens it's too bad that the world puts us in a position like that but you know as i said this morning we've done a great job with isis we have just absolutely decimated isis but now we have to make some further decisions so they'll be made fairly soon thank you all very much . france's president emanuel said in a t.v. interview he had proved odds ally russia at a reception of international diplomats president vladimir pu

military response to the barbaric use of chemical weapons by the assad regime so a very clear statement of intent i think will be sent by the united states a tool said regime but also of course to the russians and the iranians who have been propping up as saddam in damascus and so what would be the purpose what would be achieved by bombing assad in this way. i think a number of things going firstly the united states wants to send a very clear message not only to our side but also to other rogue regimes that the use of chemical weapons against civilians is completely unacceptable the actions of the regime have been absolutely brutal and barbaric the united states as the leader of the free world must stand up to this kind of barbarism and savitri so i think that's the first thing but secondly this is also i think a warning to the russians and iranians that their support for the assad regime is also unacceptable and i do believe the president trump will be sending a clear message to both moscow and iran. it's all about us and his murderous regime is not acceptable it's all about the messag

president trump once again finds himself responding to a chemical weapons attack perpetrated by the assad regime in syria. this time calling out vladimir putin and russia and iran for enabling assad. he says there will be a big price to pay for the latest provocation. the president criticized obama. he wrote on twitter, if obama crossed the stated red line in the sand, this would have ended long ago. animal an -- animal assad would have been history. he said president obama should not have responded at the time. this is what the president's homeland security adviser said about the options available to donald trump now. >> there will be another missile attack? >> i would not take anything off the table. these are horrible photos. we're looking into the attack at this point. >> reporter: the president's national security council is expected to meet on monday about the syrian issue as is the united nations security council. the president is coming into the situation having said he wants to pull the united states out of syria all together. of course, his national security team is not fully formed. h

you and others have been blocked from entering and do not see this that's because of the assad regime we need to remember that everything that's happening with respect to the murder of these people and isn't. is the responsibility of the saddam regime so we were very confident about the evidence that we had. and it was clear and the secretary said yesterday he was very confident about the intelligence as well as the evidence and that's why we moved for instance on russia and the size of the tournament really active affective d. confliction channel with russia it's been used months before this attack it was used through this through the strike and it's been used afterwards and i'm not going to comment on the anything more specific on the program the current program of the what does he regime has now all it's like you made lots of assessment you have a good idea you have lots of targets so in comparison to what the us and regime are saying they're still a residual element of the syrian program this out there i believe that we took the heart of it out with the attacks that we have accomp

this -- that's because of the assad regime. we need to remember that everything that's happening with respect to the murder of these people, innocent people, is the responsibility of the assad regime. so we were very confident about the evidence that we had. and it was clear. and the secretary said yesterday he was very confident about the intelligence, as well as the evidence. and that's why we moved forward. >> two other questions on russia and the size of the -- >> sure. we have an active, effective deconfliction channel with russia. it's been used months before this attack. used through this strike and it's been used afterwards. and i'm not going to be able to comment on anything more specific than that. >> the size of the current program that -- what the syrian regime has now? you made lots of assessment. you have a good idea. lots of target. in comparison to -- >> i'd say there's still a residual element that's out there. i believe that we took the heart of it out with the attacks that we accomplished last night. i'm not

it's going to be hard for washington to getting to direct talks with the assad regime. uld step aside or be simply a transitionalfigure, but should step aside or be simply a transitional figure, but i should step aside or be simply a transitionalfigure, but i think should step aside or be simply a transitional figure, but i think the weight of recent history militates against direct engagement. that said, a way must be found as soon as possible to get talks going between the various powers involved in syria and the regime. how it can be done i don't know, it's going to be a very difficultjob to construct that meeting. always good to get your insights. richard murphy, former ambassador. thanks for your time. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30pm this evening in the papers — our guests joining me tonight are owen bennett, deputy political editor at huffpost uk and rosamund urwin, financial service correspondent at the sunday times. the founder and chief executive of the world's largest advertising g

they did an incredibly brave thing in standing up to the assad regime in demanding their freedom, basic dignity, and human rights. they have requested american military support to level the playing field because they are fighting a regime that deliberately slaughter civilians while releasing jihadists from prison. this started with peaceful protesters trying to fight back. they are calling for u.s. help, but not for us to fight this war for them. host: the caller pointed out that the print this president called the shar always sought -- the president called bashar al-assad and animal. someone that would authorize an attack on his own people, how do you get someone like that to a diplomatic table? is there a diplomatic solution where bashar al-assad is involved? guest: that is a militant -- million-dollar question. bashar al-assad has never been willing to grant a single meaningful concession to the syrian opposition. it has never been possible to reach a negotiation about the settlement of war until and unless the shower al-assad is --ced -- but show all aside bashar al-assad is forced

france's president hardens his rhetoric on the assad regime. have the proof that last week, days ago, chemical weapons, at least chlorine, were used, and they were used by the regime of bashar al—assad. but is america rowing back? we're looking very, very seriously at the whole situation and we will see what happens, folks. we'll have in depth analysis and the latest thinking from washington and westminster. also tonight: "daddy!" "love from daddy and mummy" and all that crap! disgusting! one week on, residents still furiously divided over a memorial to a burglar who died after being stabbed in the course of robbing a home. we discuss the morality of remembering. thousands of children in iraq, orphaned, lost or abandoned, now the battle for mosul is long over. this woman is on a mission to reunite them with whatever family is left. good evening. we are no clearer tonight precisely what action america — and by extension britain — is prepared to take after the apparent chemical attack on douma in syria, but the cogs are continuing to grind.

well no it certainly wasn't the mission as stated by dollar trump was to ensure that assad regime does not alter conduct any chemical attacks ever again and that mission has certainly not been accomplished it's of course a political statement for dollar trump to me but if he has accomplished that mission as he says he has and certainly explained how saw three sites have been attacked allegedly these sites were. holding chemical stockpiles there's no evidence of that that's been provided let's for a moment believe that is true it is very easy still for the assad regime if indeed this history making chemical weapons to continue to make them remember in two thousand and thirteen russia and the united states had an understanding that assad is going to give up all of the chemical stockpiles of the chemical attacks have continued and the strike yesterday has been quite limited if you see the reaction that has come our demands and in many ways the strike is not being as huge as was promised by dollar drum but he says that if there are more attacks the united states is locked and loaded so the

that they were still assessing the exact proof connecting those chemical attacks to the syrian assad regime, but said that they would continue to do that and said that what happens next depends entirely on what the assad regime will do. we are still taking your calls about yesterday's strikes in syria and getting your reaction as we look at the headlines after the strike. the boston herald front page says that u.s. strikes syria. and the united, states have marshaled power against barbarism and brutality. -- usingto the nation the words of the president when he spoke to the nation about the attacks. honolulu, airstrikes targeting chemical weapons and facilities, along with some graphics on their front page. the new york daily news leading attack, front page trump leads allied missile barrage on syria. you have been waiting on the republican line. what are your thoughts? caller: i have quite a few. that assad is protecting the a ssedis and christians. we don't know who was chopping the heads off of people, but we were arming the wrong rebels. there are two sides to a coin. for everyone that

and to join us condemn the assad regime and to join us in ourfirm resolve condemn the assad regime ands in our firm resolve to prevent chemical weapons from being used again. we want our provider military update. good evening, i amjoined by brigadier general montague, and our british tache. secretary mattis has just outlined the policy and legal framework was knights strike in syria. at 9pm eastern standard time french and the british and us forces struck targets in syria in support of president's trump objected to deter the future use of chemical weapons. our forces are integrated throughout the planning and execution of the operation. the targets that were struck and destroyed were specifically associated with the syrian regime's chemical weapons programme. we also selected targets that would minimise the risk to innocent civilians. the first target was a scientific research centre located in the greater the mascot area. this military facility was a syrian ce ntre military facility was a syrian centre for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological wa

the assad regime up to a level i wish to begin in december two thousand and sixteen once they are inside tomorrow which is expected to happen soon there will be a tiny pocket in how much on other time pockets and there are and that's where they will focus their attention to the already started some sort of allotment there as well and then if the image of these could be a little bit difficult for the regime to get because the turkish boots on the ground the regime has vetoed it several times they didn't get all of their territory back but to answer your question in short this is a significant victory for assad's regime and in many ways would see that of a shuttle assad along with russia has won some pretty huge turning point i'm sure what about the civilians the fighters who are leaving as you said heading for rebel controlled regions in the north what can they expect there. well let's just really from the frying pan into the fire move there conditions in italy and have been truly horrifying as well even though injure arlo's the turkey says that they are sort of building some sort of infr

this is a regime that has propped up assad a mass murderer he is. this is a country that supports bad guys everywhere. so if they're clamoring and making a lot of noise. you know donald trump took the right decision last night. abby: dr. gorka, that statement is a perfect example of what president trump is dealing with when it comes to vladimir putin and with russia how they continue to lie through their teeth. how does the president move forward here? how does he deal with russia specifically other than calling them out last night? >> everything that -- so the president is the patriot. he is the new commander-in-chief. is he a pragmatist he said it the week he became president or won the election, he gave a press conference in trump tower where he said in theory, i would like us to have better relations with russia. why? it's a nuclear power. it's got 11 time. it's on the u.n. national security council. it makes sense to have decent relationships with russia. even back then, a year and a half ago, he said if that's not possible, so be it. if they c

. >> clearly, the assad regime did not get the message last year. this time our allies made it harder. together we send a clear message to assad and his murderous lieutenants that this is not -- they should not perpetrate another chemical attack for which they will be held accountable. >> we are now going to mike in jerusalem. >> what we can do is give you some of the first independent satellite images of one of the damascus area. targets. this is the target in the damascus area. the image is coming to us from a location identified by the general as the syrian center for research development production and testing of chemical and biological weapons. the before pictures are from 2013. the active pictures from today. they appear to show the three main buildings pretty much brought to the ground. that is a part of images coming out of damascus. video on the grounds was piles of rubble with a facility labeled by syria as a scientific research facility is typically denied was used for chemical weapons with his inspectors visited the facility and claimed t

begin with syria where the red line of chemical weapons use has allegedly been crossed by the assad regime and countered with western airstrikes and yet has anything really changed the war for syria's future continues with assad's advantage in tact at the diplomatic war of words between the world's powers it rages on with the rhetoric a sea of contradiction on monday u.k. prime minister to resign may defended the air strikes in syria conducted with her allies france and the united states saying that she had seen evidence assad was behind it russia says it's all a bunch of lies who's to be believed and. is there any way to get the policy back on track expert analysis is just ahead but first this report statements of the prime minister. after the strikes the questions and there are many fast british prime minister to reason may was forced to explain why the u.k. joined the u.s. and france in attacking syria without getting parliament's prior approval we have acted because it is in our national interest. it is in our national interest to prevent the further use of chemical weapons in syria an

the united states of america will not allow the assad regime to don't use chemical weapons. we obliterated the research facility that it used to assemble weapons of mass murder. i spoke to the president this morning and he said if the syrian regime uses the poisonous gas again, the united states is locked and loaded. when our president draws a redlired line, our president enforces the red line. the united states are deeply grateful of the united kingdom and france. we worked in a lot of steps and we were in complete agreement. last night our great friends and allies shouldered the burden that benefits all of us. the civilized world owe them this thanks. in the weeks and months to come, security council should take time to reflect on its role and defending the international rule of law. the security council have failed in its duty to hold those who used chemical weapons to account. that failure is largely due to russian obstruction. we call on russia to take a hard look at the company it keeps and live up to its responsibility as a permanent member of the council and defend t

directly against russia that's not going to happen or you us french israeli airstrike on multiple assad regime targets it's going to be the question as to whether the international community including the u.s. and france but other countries are going to say now that civilians who were outside regime areas will now be protected and those protected zones of course could include no fly zones which tell the assad regime and the russians no more attacks from the air no more conventional attacks as well as chemical attacks will that stuff be taken we were at this point six years ago were five years ago after the initial times and it wasn't done then we don't know if it will happen no fly zones a very controversial issue of course they could come up today at that u.n. security council meeting scheduled for later today thanks very much professor scott lucas of for us from the university of birmingham thank you. now for a look at some of the other stories making the news at this hour in canada vigils been held to honor the fifteen members of a junior ice hockey team killed in a bus crash on friday and

defense actually james mattis has called for the international community to stand up to the assad regime. i want to emphasize that these strikes are directed at the syrian regime and conducting these strikes we have gone to great lengths to avoid civilian and foreign casualties but it is a time for all civilized nations to urgently unite in ending this sid syrian civil war by supporting the united nations back to an eva peace process in accordance with the chemical weapons convention prohibiting the use of such weapons we urge responsible nations to condemn the assad regime and to join us in our firm resolve to prevent chemical weapons from being used again. joins us now from along the takis syria border some of the assad forces assad regime the government that has had some time now to assess the damage from these strikes these three strikes that took place about three hours ago what do you hearing from inside syria . well as the sun came up after these strikes ended the first statement that we heard which was not surprising from state media was a tone of defiance saying that this aggres

and to join us condemn the assad regime and to join us in ourfirm resolve condemn the assad regime andin our firm resolve to prevent chemical weapons from being used against white the retired lieutenant—general daniel against white the retired lieutena nt—general daniel davidsson of the defence priorities... joins us of the defence priorities... joins us again tonight. we have this attack, this strike, but the end of the person who is the leader of syria and who is committing these alleged atrocities is bashar al—assad and he is still in office. it's like there is almost no point? i can't say that i disagree to strongly because again, you say you want a message to be sent, but he is still in charge so what secretary mattis just said about the intent, well, certainly russia doesn't angry that is the case because they don't even admit that there was a chemical attack by bashar al—assad so they are saying whatever your intent was, that's not us, we didn't do that so we're not going to... we get the message and do something different. he is still in charge, they are still fighting a civil

supporters hold noisy demonstrations of defiance in damascus meanwhile syria rebels fighting the assad regime in the western strikes were a fast as long as assad stayed in power. just a while ago i spoke to danny makki a british syrian freelance journalist and damascus i asked him to describe the moments when the airstrikes hit the city. but it was quite a lot at about four thirty in the morning a series of different strikes on areas within the camp the syrian capital damascus awoke me into work most of the residents of this of this capital city initially around ten different rockets were landed within areas within the vicinity of the capital in eastern damascus and that is a research facility called bettas it where it's known to have had a history of of the related chemical weapons. program of production another strike this was a reported in a military airport and lastly the final area which was stark if there was a research facility and it's a huge complex of numerous buildings military academies aboard trees and that was in the western part of the city just a stone's throw away from the ar

while russia was busy protecting the regime, assad took notice. the regime, assad took notice. it could act with impunity. and it did. in november, russia used its veto to kill the joint investigative mechanism, the main tool we had to figure out who used chemical weapons in syria. just as russia was using its veto, the assad regime used sarin, leading to dozens assad regime used sarin, leading to d oze ns of assad regime used sarin, leading to dozens of injuries and deaths. russia's veto was the green light for the assad regime to use these most barbaric weapons against the syrian people, in complete violation of international law. the united states and our allies were not going to let that stand. chemical weapons area to let that stand. chemical weapons are a threat to us all. they are a unique threat, a type of weapons so evil that the international community agreed they must be banned. we cannot stand by and let russia trash every international norm that we stand for and allow the use of chemical weapons to go unanswered. and just as the syrian regime's use of chemical weapo

bashar al—assad's regime has been under pressure from his own population since the arab revolt in 2011n to help save along with the iranians. that really puts russia and iran and the syrian regime of assad on one side. typically that is going to be saudi arabia and united states and its allies on the other side. so relations between the us and russia could hardly be worse, of course. trump is part of the problem. he has no credibility as an interlocutor with the russians, as somebody who could sit down at the table and have a deal with them, because so many people in america right now see him as being in bed with putin. we also have to bear in mind the political situation he faces at home right 110w. situation he faces at home right now. he needs a distraction. the last few days has been a disaster for him, politically. his right—hand henchman, michael cohen, it is now clear he is under communication —— under investigation. his private communications, including those with trump, have been seized. trump is looking at possible impeachment. and so looking at possible impeachment. and so f

so the question here, what do you make of that criticism that the assad regime has been emboldened by the u.s. president saying it's time to get out of there? >> well, john mccain has been a long-time backer of the syrian opposition. and i respect what he says. but let's be clear. the assad regime was emboldened back in 2013 when it carried out its first nerve agent attack, kill mortgage than 1400 people. and the international community didn't respond. instead, russia took the lead, cent steered the discussion into other areas to avoid a response to that chemical attack. now here we are five years later, and russia and the assad regime did not carry out these attacks in the last three days that in fact killed more than 300 people because of what donald trump said last week. they did it because they were not getting a full surrender. and they effectively showed short of a full surrender, they will carry out these attacks. whatever the united states says. the question is not what the u.s. says, the question is what the u.s. in fact the uk and other countries do. watch out for one thing

really be assad regime did not get the message. —— clearly the assad regime. that they cannot perpetrate another chemical weapons attack for which they will be held accountable. —— assad. the 70 nations in the defeat isis coalition remained committed to defeating isis in syria. the strike tonight superliga mate —— demonstrates —— separately demonstrates —— separately demonstrates international resolve to prevent chemical weapons being used on anyone, under any circumstances, in contravention of international law. i want to emphasise these strikes are directed at the syrian regime, and in conducting the strikes we have gone to great lengths to avoid civilian and foreign casualties. but it is a time for all civilised nations to urgently unites in ending the syrian civil war by supporting the united nations backed geneva peace process. in accordance with the chemical weapons convention prohibiting the use of such weapons, we urge responsible nations to condemn the assad regime and join us in ourfirm resolve to prevent chemical weapons from being used again. that

rendition program as well as speak with former prisoners of the al-assad regime. then we will look at why america's black mothers and babies are in a life or death crisis. all that and more, coming up. welcome to democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. president trump said wednesday he is looking forward to plan talks with north korea leader kim jong-un is that he is prepared to walk away from the table if he is not happy with how they are proceeding. trump's comments came as u.s. and north korean officials solidified plans for an unprecedented summit between the two leaders, likely to be held in mongolia's capital. on wednesday, trump took to twitter to praise his ca chief mike pompeo for secretly meeting with kim jong-un easter weekend. the praise was widely seen as a bid to boost pompeo's bid to become secretary of date as the senate foreign relations committee is poised to reject his nomination. president trump demurred wednesday when asked if he was moving to fire special counsel robert mueller even as he called the invest

regime's ability to search, develop, and develop chemical weapons. a year ago after the atrocity, the us conduct strike on the airfield which the attack took place but assadikes by the us, uk and france last night were significantly larger than the us action a year ago and specifically designed to have a greater impact on the regime's capability and willingness to use chemical weapons. this collective action sends a clear message that the international community will not stand by and tolerate the use of chemical weapons. the prime minister making her position clear. the secretary general of nato said members of the organisation stood behind its allies. he told our brussels reporter he had no reason to doubt the information shared to them. we we re the information shared to them. we were briefed very thoroughly by the three allies, the us, the uk and france. we appreciate all the information they shared with us. we have no reason to doubt the findings and the assessment of these three allies. at the same time, we know that the chemical attack that happened on the 7th of april happened on the 7th of april happened in the area where the assad regime operates

significantly i mean this is the biggest victory for assad regime after december two thousand and sixteen which is when the regime regained aleppo the financial center the heart of many sick after that this is the biggest victory for about our last hour and the surprising thing for many you develop groups in opposition activists and those who have sort of from the outside supported the uprising not the revolution has been the assad regime has used the same tactics which is siege and air warfare and then a ground offensive and the same sort of factors have been used in goods as they did in aleppo and there was really no preparation in a sense from the international community to support the rebels law so this is huge for him once do mastic know what there would be a tiny pocket and there are one in hama and it delivered to rubbles that he would then be focusing his attention on. the bombing campaign in eastern has been devastating what spin the cost of this victory for the syrian regime what's been the cost for civilians. what about fifteen hundred people who have been killed in the east an

for a lot of searions, their major fight is those who oppose the assad regime. >> there's a sense they've been let down by the outside world, they've been made a lot of promises. president obama said in 2012 that he wand bashar al-assad out of power, that it was unacceptable for him to stay. we've soon so many war crimes since then and so many dead since then and now there is still a signal he's not going anywhere. >> for those displaced internally and, ter externally, what's the process here? there are children who have grown up either in refugee camps or in the streets of lebanese cities or jordanian cities or turkish cities who have never seen the inside of a school. >> they are malnourished, they have diseases they've never had before. defeating isis in terms of taking back their territory was just a small part of the overall picture in syria. for these people who have been suffering miserably and living a nightmare for so many years now, they're scarred and picking themselves back up given. you look at that human misery, it not good for anyone. it creates lots of problems and dangers

>> so ambassador ford, your former boss president obama, his policy was regime change in syria or at least saying president assad has to go. it hasn't yet been asked clear what the policy is of this trump administration. we know he's not for regime change, but do you see a clear coherent syria policy on the civil war side at least in terms of what this administration wants to achieve? >> no, not yet. i think they are still trying to work it out. there are two things we know for sure. one, they are very clear that they want to go and totally defeat, destroy isis in eastern syria, and they have u.s. forced on the ground working on that. that's very clear. they have sort of changed the policy a little bit and now they have added chemical weapons to it, and they are -- they are saying they are going to sustain attacks. you heard locked hand loaded from ambassador haley. if they are now going to say you used chlorine gas, we hit you. you use a little bit of chlorine gas over there, we strike. that's new. that's different. that's something they need to explain to the russians to start with. they need to explain it to

the fact is that russia, as the main prop-- diplomatic prop-- for the assad regime has been unwilling to pissure prdent assad. and the united states has onalso sanc russia, and, of course, that hasn't led to a change in its behavior on othe so there's a real problem of how do you change thiserrible stalemate on the ground that has so far, in a war, killed something like a half million people, that has led to the dilacement-- over half ofthe country's 23 million people-- and has led the majity to be dependent on international aid for their daily bread. >> sreenivasan: andhort of this particular response, it's gone relatively unchecked, aninghat there hasn't anyone exwn military aggression from an outside foe based on any actions that bashar al-assad has taken. >> that's right. and in the year since the united states last struc syria-- again, because of chemical weapons -- the regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons, the white house admitted today. and the facis the military strike does dnot eliminate there enange of facilities, chemical stockpiles, commad posts used for chemical we

action in syria saying, quote, we are united in our resolve that assad's barbaric use of chemical weapons cannot go unanswered. his regime'snconscionable brutality against innocent civilians cannot be tolerated. senate democratic leader schumer saying tonight quote a pinpointed limited action to punish and hopefully deter assad from doing this again is appropriate but the administration has to be careful about not getting us into a greater and more involved war in syria. senator jack reed, the top democrat on the armed services committee says lawmakers need more information to determine the scope and effectiveness of this action. a house democrat who served in iraq as a marine says the commander-in-chief must outline the mission. >> in syria today, we cannot answer those basic fundamental questions. so to have a commander in chief who refuses to give that kind of guidance, and yet flies off and tweets threatening missile strikes and everything else is a disservice to our country. it is a disservice to our constitution. and it is a disservice to our troops on the ground. >> now house speaker ryan has said he thinks the pres

that is because of the assad regime.member that everything that's happening, with respect to the murder of these people, innocent people, is the responsibility of the assad regime. so we were very confident about the evidence that we had. and it was clear and the secretary said yesterday he was confident about the intelligence as well as the evidence. the two other questions on russia and the size of the... evidence. the two other questions on russia and the size of the. .. we have an active deacon flickion arrangement with russia. the size of the programme. you made lots of assessment, you have a good idea, in comparison to what the assad...” would say there is still a residual element of mitt. —— it. i'm not going to say they can't conduct a chemical attack in the future, but i think they will think long after ha rd think they will think long after hard about it after last night. president trump tweeted mission accomplished, which has not born out when the phrase has been used. you have leapt the option open for future