THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release April 13, 2018
STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT TRUMP
ON SYRIA
Diplomatic Room
9:01 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, a short time ago, I ordered
the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on
targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of
Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A combined operation with the
armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now
underway. We thank them both.
Tonight, I want to speak with you about why we have taken this
action.
One year ago, Assad launched a savage chemical weapons attack
against his own innocent people. The United States responded
with 58 missile strikes that destroyed 20 percent of the Syrian
Air Force.
Last Saturday, the Assad regime again deployed chemical weapons
to slaughter innocent civilians -- this time, in the town of
Douma, near the Syrian capital of Damascus. This massacre was a
significant escalation in a pattern of chemical weapons use by
that very terrible regime.
The evil and the despicable attack left mothers and fathers,
infants and children, thrashing in pain and gasping for
air. These are not the actions of a man; they are crimes of a
monster instead.
Following the horrors of World War I a century ago, civilized
nations joined together to ban chemical warfare. Chemical
weapons are uniquely dangerous not only because they inflict
gruesome suffering, but because even small amounts can unleash
widespread devastation.
The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong
deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical
weapons. Establishing this deterrent is a vital national
security interest of the United States. The combined American,
British, and French response to these atrocities will integrate
all instruments of our national power -- military, economic, and
diplomatic. We are prepared to sustain this response until the
Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents.
I also have a message tonight for the two governments most
responsible for supporting, equipping, and financing the
criminal Assad regime.
To Iran, and to Russia, I ask: What kind of a nation wants to be
associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women, and
children?
The nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep.
No nation can succeed in the long run by promoting rogue states,
brutal tyrants, and murderous dictators.
In 2013, President Putin and his government promised the world
that they would guarantee the elimination of Syria’s chemical
weapons. Assad’s recent attack -- and today’s response -- are
the direct result of Russia’s failure to keep that promise.
Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or
if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability
and peace. Hopefully, someday we’ll get along with Russia, and
maybe even Iran -- but maybe not.
I will say this: The United States has a lot to offer, with the
greatest and most powerful economy in the history of the world.
In Syria, the United States -- with but a small force being used
to eliminate what is left of ISIS -- is doing what is necessary
to protect the American people. Over the last year, nearly 100
percent of the territory once controlled by the so-called ISIS
caliphate in Syria and Iraq has been liberated and eliminated.
The United States has also rebuilt our friendships across the
Middle East. We have asked our partners to take greater
responsibility for securing their home region, including
contributing large amounts of money for the resources,
equipment, and all of the anti-ISIS effort. Increased
engagement from our friends, including Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, and others can ensure that Iran
does not profit from the eradication of ISIS.
America does not seek an indefinite presence in Syria under no
circumstances. As other nations step up their contributions, we
look forward to the day when we can bring our warriors
home. And great warriors they are.
Looking around our very troubled world, Americans have no
illusions. We cannot purge the world of evil, or act everywhere
there is tyranny.
No amount of American blood or treasure can produce lasting
peace and security in the Middle East. It’s a troubled
place. We will try to make it better, but it is a troubled
place. The United States will be a partner and a friend, but
the fate of the region lies in the hands of its own people.
In the last century, we looked straight into the darkest places
of the human soul. We saw the anguish that can be unleashed and
the evil that can take hold. By the end of the World War I,
more than one million people had been killed or injured by
chemical weapons. We never want to see that ghastly specter
return.
So today, the nations of Britain, France, and the United States
of America have marshaled their righteous power against
barbarism and brutality.
Tonight, I ask all Americans to say a prayer for our noble
warriors and our allies as they carry out their missions.
We pray that God will bring comfort to those suffering in
Syria. We pray that God will guide the whole region toward a
future of dignity and of peace.
And we pray that God will continue to watch over and bless the
United States of America.
Thank you, and goodnight. Thank you.
END 9:09 P.M. EDT