White House Mulls Sanctions On Syria

After condemning the violence by the Syrian government in response to ongoing protests, the White House is now mulling over “targeted sanctions” against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government.

In a statement, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor indicated for the first time that sanctions were possible in Syria. 

“The brutal violence used by the government of Syria against its people is completely deplorable,” Vietor said. “The United States is pursuing a range of possible policy options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behavior is unacceptable.”

The White House condemned the violence in Syria late last week, but the severity of the situation escalated over the weekend.