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| Syria: Who wants what after chemical weapons horror - CNN Posted: 28 Aug 2013 08:39 AM PDT  A Free Syrian Army fighter takes position behind sandbags in the old city of Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, August 27. Syria has warned Western leaders against taking any military action after international outrage over the country's suspected use of chemical weapons. Tensions in Syria began to flare in March 2011 and have escalated into an ongoing civil war. Click through to view the most compelling images taken since the start of the conflict. HIDE CAPTION Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos Syrian civil war in photos STORY HIGHLIGHTS
(CNN) -- The ripple effects of an alleged chemical attack in Syria are being felt across the globe. The rhetoric is ratcheting up with talk of punishing Syria, even though Syria denies using chemical weapons. Allies of President Bashar al-Assad accuse the rebel forces of carrying out the chemical strike. Meanwhile rebel forces, who also deny responsibility for the strike, say 1,300 people died in the attacks on the outskirts of Damascus. CNN correspondents and experts explain the different positions of some key nations involved in preparing for -- or warning against -- international military attacks on Syria. United States As the guarantor of international order the United States has to do something after the large scale use of chemical weapons, and the United States believes the Assad regime was responsible for the attacks. But it faces something of a quandary. Launching the kind of large-scale campaign necessary to topple Assad would be lengthy and whoever replaces Assad could be even worse for U.S. interests than Assad himself, given the fact that the most successful opposition groups on the ground are aligned with al Qaeda. So, the military intervention has to be large enough to punish Assad but not so large as to actually overthrow him. For U.S. policymakers this is the least bad decision they likely feel they can make. For the U.S. , Syria is a problem from hell China It is a long-time ally of Syria and wants to keep its influence. China says it is firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons and supports the U.N chemical weapons inspectors. It wants the inspectors to be able to do their job and has warned against prejudging the results. It also says it wants peace and suggests continuing with the second Geneva Conference on Syria, an initiative which is currently in doubt. Russia It doesn't want a repeat of Libya or Iraq. Much has been said about Russia trying to protect the Syrian government because of its military and economic interests in the country but Russia's key policy goal is blocking American efforts to shape the region. Russia doesn't believe revolutions, wars and regime change bring stability and democracy. It often points to the Arab Spring and the U.S.-led war in Iraq as evidence. Russia also doesn't trust U.S. intentions in the region. It believes humanitarian concerns are often used an excuse for pursuing America's own political and economic interests. Russia has maintained influence throughout the conflict by using its veto in the U.N. Security Council to shield Syria from international pressure. But that influence has now declined because the U.S. and its allies are not seeking a U.N. mandate to launch a military strike. Iran For Iran, Syria is a strategically key ally Iran's position, as outlined by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and new President Hassan Rouhani, is that the Syrian government is a victim of international plots. Iran believes the West and almost all Arab countries are in cahoots in an effort to implement regime change in Syria. Iran says the main objective of this plot is to make the region safer for Israel. Syria was also Iran's only Arab ally during its eight-year war with Iraq, and Syria together with the Hezbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon are considered to be Tehran's first line of defense in case of an attack on Iran by Israel or the West. So, Iran's interest in Syria is motivated by its longtime friendship as well as Syria's strategic importance for Tehran. Iran says a U.S. military strike would spark disaster Jordan It wants to stay out of trouble. Jordan wants a diplomatic solution but it was also host to a military meeting involving the United States, European nations, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. Despite that meeting, Jordan does not want to be seen as hosting the meeting where it is decided there will be intervention in Syria. Jordan feels that would put them in a dangerous situation with possible missile strikes from Syria and terror strikes precipitated by the Syrian regime. It is an open secret that Saudi Arabia is using Jordan to smuggle weapons into Syria for the rebels. Jordan says it is doing all it can to prevent that and does not want to inflame the situation in Syria. Jordan is feeling vulnerable, buffeted by the Arab Spring and internal tensions such as allegations of official corruption and a less popular king, and it wants to stay out of trouble. United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron is pushing for a vote in parliament on taking part in military action in response to the Syrian attacks. He says any response needs to be proportionate, legal and aimed at deterring the use of chemical weapons. France President Francois Hollande says France has a duty to protect civilians in Syria and will increase military aid to opposition groups. He also says France is "ready to punish those who made the decision to gas these innocent people." Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is ready for any scenario and is warning Syria he will respond with force if Israel is attacked. Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal says the Syrian government has lost its Arab identity and has called for "firm and serious" action. CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen, CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson, Beijing Bureau Chief Jaime FlorCruz, Moscow Correspondent Phil Black, and CNN's Shirzad Bozorgmehr in Tehran contributed to this report. |
| 50 years after March on Washington, a chance to reclaim the "Dream" - CBS News Posted: 28 Aug 2013 08:15 AM PDT (CBS News) The March on Washington, formally called March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, was the largest demonstration for social change that America had ever seen at the time. Now, 50 years later, we remember that historic moment in our nation's capital. CBS News cultural correspondent Wynton Marsalis offered this essay on "CBS This Morning" about the messages of that day -- and a commentary on where we are as a country, half a century later. Fifty years ago today, 250,000 Americans gathered on the mall of the Nation's capital to peacefully request social and economic equality for our most oppressed group of citizens: the American negro. More than 25 people from all walks of life spoke, played, and sang that day, in an impressive tapestry of national leadership mobilized for jobs and freedom, and for redemption of the national soul. The convener of the march, 74-year-old A. Philip Randolph, spoke first. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 34, the charismatic focal point of the Civil Rights Movement, spoke last. Dr. King's oration was, upon delivery, a recognized masterpiece. Over time, his words have become so well known that the march itself is reduced to one man's dream. In fact, it was much, much more. That day, everybody had a dream. Oh yes, the march inspired a moral victory with broad social implications, but it provided no directives for tangible economic parity. And with the passage of time, a moral force without concrete works dies on the vine. How many of us today know that it was called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom? I sure didn't. And it is now clear that poor and working class citizens need to be an integral part of our economic system. This necessity transcends race. Race is a matter of physiology; discrimination is a matter of culture, and culture shapes public perception, which influences political action. Somewhere in the mid-1970s, I began to notice black and white artists stereotyping black people as criminals, pimps and drug dealers and gradually adding more and more misogyny and violence in movies, videos and recording after recording. The constant glorification and reselling of this debauched imagery has corrupted both blacks and whites understanding of Black America. Unfortunately, that shapes current public opinion much more than the memory of Dr. King's dream. Following the success of Civil Rights legislation, many black Americans erroneously thought that the election of mayors with their same skin color would lead to an increasing economic prosperity. Even the electing of a non-white president was misconstrued as the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement. Let's examine the unemployment, incarceration and education statistics for the black and white poor. These sobering facts compel us to act on the collective dream expressed 50 years ago. A sustainable victory for equality and employment will not come through a prophet, a president, or even the law. It must be the will and actions of the people, all the people, all the time. Dr. King ended the march triumphantly. His "I have a dream" refrain is rightfully known by all, but my favorite phrase drives home a profound human fundamental, enacted by everyone in attendance that day: "We cannot walk alone." When we walk together, we are an infinite resource and can create unimagined possibilities. Separate, we are opposing tribes, fighting over what we mistakenly perceive as "never enough." Today is the perfect day to begin harvesting the endless promise in our way of life. When it was invested 50 years ago on the mall of our nation's capital, by a mosaic of high-minded leaders and 250,000 engaged activists. Let's walk together to claim our inheritance. It's out here for us. For more with Marsalis, watch his full commentary and comments on "CBS This Morning" above. |
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