As a state, as a government, in 2001 we proposed to the United Nations to empty or to get rid of every WMD in the Middle East, and the United States stood against that proposal. This is our conviction and policy.
We are facing an external attack against us, which is more dangerous than any other previous wars… We are dealing with those who are extremists, who only know the language of killing and criminality.
The hope for an American is different from the hope of a Syrian. For me, I should be the hope of the Syrian, not any other one, not American, neither French, nor anyone in the world. I’m President to help the Syrian people.
We don’t have a lot of expectations [for Donald J. Trump] because the American administration is not only about the President; it’s about different powers within this administration, the different lobbies that they are going to influence any President.
When they don’t have support within their country, they couldn’t continue more than – how many weeks ? – three weeks. So, the only reason we stand here for two years and a half is because we have internal support, public support.
As I said, this [repercussions] may take different forms : direct and indirect. Direct when people want to retaliate, or governments. Indirect when you’re going to have instability and the spread of terrorism all over the region that will influence the west directly.
You in Lebanon, your power is no match to Israel. Israel, militarily, is more powerful than you and maybe it is more powerful than all the Arab countries, or most of them.
Your policy should be a mixture between your interests and how you reach your ends, but based on values. It cannot be only the end justifies the means, because for the criminals, ends justify the means, for thieves, for every illegal and immoral action, the end justifies the means.
We don’t discuss this issue [ chemical weapons ] in public because we never said that we have it, and we never said that we don’t have it. It’s a Syrian issue ; it’s a military issue we never discuss in public with anyone.
There is no such things as “Islamic terrorism,” because terrorism differs from Islam. There’s just terrorism, not Islamic terrorism. But the term “Islamic terrorism” has become widespread.
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - We don’t have a lot of expectations [for Donald J. Trump] because the American administration is not only about the President; it’s about different powers within this administration, the different lobbies that they are going to influence any President.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/we-dont-have-a-lot-of-expectations-for-donald-j-tr-683x1024.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - It is difficult for anyone to tell you what is going to happen. [Middle East] is an area where everything is on the brink of explosion.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/it-is-difficult-for-anyone-to-tell-you-what-is-goi-683x1024.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - As I said, this [repercussions] may take different forms : direct and indirect. Direct when people want to retaliate, or governments. Indirect when you’re going to have instability and the spread of terrorism all over the region that will influence the west directly.](https://minimalistquotes.com/images/as-i-said-this-repercussions-may-take-different-fo.jpg)
![Bashar al-Assad Quote - We don’t discuss this issue [ chemical weapons ] in public because we never said that we have it, and we never said that we don’t have it. It’s a Syrian issue ; it’s a military issue we never discuss in public with anyone.](https://minimalistquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/we-dont-discuss-this-issue-chemical-weapons-in-pub-683x1024.jpg)
