Condoleezza Rice: Syria's Assad 'Is No Friend Of The United States'

WASHINGTON -- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Syrian President Bashar Assad is taking his country to the brink of civil war.

Rice tells CNN's "State of the Union" that Assad's crackdown is creating a very dangerous situation.

She says Assad "is no friend of the United States" and that his overthrow would be a "great thing" for the Syrian people, U.S. interests and anyone seeking a more peaceful Middle East.

Rice is calling for the "toughest" possible penalties against Assad's government.

She says that if Russia and China block U.N. sanctions, the U.S. should apply pressure with its allies or act alone. Rice also is urging more assistance to Syria's opposition.

Comments

[Boomer946]

10:40 AM on 11/22/2011

Huff Post you should be ashamed of how you construct your headlines. This one in particular gives the initial impression Ms. Rice is being critical of our President rather than Syria's President until you actually link to the story. I know you guys did this intentionally to pull visitors to the article. But I think it is dishonest to use such a technique.

[VA Lady2008]

07:14 AM on 11/22/2011

I'd suggest that Ms. Rice, who likely cannot leave the United States owing to legitimate fear she will be arrested for crimes against humanity, and who, according to some reports, wasn't aware of Al Quada as a threat to thy United States, go back to quiet anonymity. Oh. Right. She's out there peddling her book. Like Cain. Like Newt.

[v eyepete]

06:15 AM on 11/22/2011

Why is Rice suddenly beginning to speak out on issues. The administration she was a part of put this country into ruin and she was just a puppet for that administration.

[Howard53545]

06:10 AM on 11/22/2011

You and your boy friend W should have taken him out.

[Danlar]

11:42 PM on 11/21/2011

Condi- I will never respect you unless you admit and apologize for Iraq-Downing street memo- our closest allie saying we lied, joe wilson and valerie plame saying we lied, the 911 comision report saying 911 and Saddam had no ties, GOPer Pat Buchanan saying "we were misled, deceived, lied to" my 2 senators and the only REp voted AGAINST the war - 2 vets one of them a war hero
Condi and Pres. Bush admin. WRONG and GUILTY of DECEPTION of the PUBLIC!

[Michael Bock]

08:55 AM on 11/22/2011

And they have yet to even face 'official'/formal, per se, threats of prosecution or even investigation (to my knowledge). Bush was and still is a war criminal, but I strongly believe that it was the evil overlord Cheney who pulled a lot of the strings---making him even MORE guilty.

But Bush and Cheney----unlike the unknown, poor saps down the road sitting in jail cell on a $100k bail for merely having a blunt or two (yet who'll likely go to prison and have a lifelong, permanent record)----are above the law, right?

To make the previous statement a little clearer---rich, influential people get away with FAR MORE EGREGIOUS, nationally- or even globally-affecting crimes than the average Joe---who, these days, gets pepper sprayed in the face for merely looking at a cop the wrong way.

That said, I think there needs to be serious, COMPLETELY independent, completely unbiased reviews of the situation in Syria for the truth as to who's actually behind the crimes against humanity there. Maybe it's Assad, maybe it's not. Maybe Assad is just a political target. Maybe it's a rogue general, who knows. But whoever is ultimately responsible, hang them for the world to see.

[redsongia]

11:41 PM on 11/21/2011

Who dug up this Bush Administration corpse? She has nerve to show her face, or worse yet, chime in on world affairs.

[lielib]

10:57 PM on 11/21/2011

Obama !!!! Are you listening? Spineless, you had more balls when Pelosi was running your game, or did she have the balls?

[Anne Mccormick]

10:14 PM on 11/21/2011

i have a question. why doesn't Condi run for the Republican nomination? she more than has the experience.

[Deep Thinking Man]

10:08 PM on 11/21/2011

Condi...you war criminal...something needs to be hurled at you...ot's called a noose !!!!!!!!

[Steelsil]

09:43 PM on 11/21/2011

Talk about an understatement!

[sej100]

09:30 PM on 11/21/2011

Ms Rice you were part of the worst administration in history. Its time you left the room

[Anne Mccormick]

10:15 PM on 11/21/2011

true, but she was one the few who have intelligence.

[redsongia]

11:42 PM on 11/21/2011

It's a shame she kept it in her desk drawer while her boss shot from the hip.

[realist2008]

09:08 PM on 11/21/2011

Condoleeza is a great pianist, but no friend to humanity.

[ashley22]

08:39 PM on 11/21/2011

Rice is as dumb as her former boss Bush.Iran is about to be armed with a nuclear weapon and the
West has too many distractions.China has experienced dynamic growth throughout the world.the
difference is that they don't have bad blood with Iran.meanwhile we talk about cyber attacks,drawing
a line i the sand,sanctions,etc.The hatred for the US will wane,not because of our ability to find
common grown with country's we find objectionable but because our sphere of influence has been
diminished much like Russia after there invasion of Afghanistan.we lost our our way in the early
part of the century,and now the balance of power has shifted.China controls Iran's nuclear future.

[njterry7]

04:55 AM on 11/22/2011

she has forgotten more than you will ever know

[ashley22]

11:26 PM on 11/22/2011

Is she your black flower in the White house ?

[ncmom5]

07:37 PM on 11/21/2011

When will her book tour be over?

[redsongia]

11:43 PM on 11/21/2011

She has nerve to show her face at all.

[raker]

07:12 PM on 11/21/2011

Rice is a notorious war criminal. The world should shun her.