Charlie Rose Interviews Assad Who Denies Using Chemical Weapons, Discusses Possible Retaliation
PBS’ Charlie Rose spoke to CBS’ Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation Sunday morning about his interview with President Bashar al-Assad, and described a defiant Assad who denied involvement in the chemical weapon attack currently invoking a proposed U.S. missile strike, and who warned of potential retaliation from allies if the U.S. did intervene.
“He basically said there has been no evidence that I’ve used chemical weapons against my own people, and . . if in fact the administration has evidence then they should show that evidence and make their case,” Rose said.
Rose said Assad did not think a strike was inevitable, but did worry about its potential effect on his army.
“He said they were as prepared as they could be,” Rose recalled. “He suggested there would be among people that are aligned with him some kind of retaliation if a strike would made. But he would not even talk about the nature of the response.”
“He had a message to the American people that it had not been a good experience for them to get involved in wars and conflicts in the Middle East, and that they should communicate to Congress and their leadership in Washington not to authorize a strike.”
“He was calm,” Rose added. “He knew the situation he was in—in fact, Damascus seemed relatively calm, the places that I was in today—but there is a clear sense that they are closely watching what is happening in Washington. I think the reason they did this interview today—we’ve been trying for a long time—is because they’re watching what happens in Washington.”
The interview airs tonight on PBS, and excerpts will be broadcast on CBS tomorrow morning.
Watch the entire clip below, via CBS:
[Image via screengrab]
