As the United States prepares for military intervention in war-torn Syria, President Bashar al-Assad continues to dig in his heels, denying accusations he's been involved in a deadly chemical weapons attack against Syrian civilians.
The dictatorial leader defends his position in an exclusive interview with Charlie Rose, which will air Monday night on PBS. The interview marks Assad's first appearance on American television in two years.
In the interview, Assad denies involvement in the Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack that reportedly killed more than 1,000 civilians. According to The Guardian, a German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, reported that a German spy ship intercepted communications from Assad's military commanders, asking Assad to give the go-ahead to use chemical weapons. However, Assad reportedly denied the requests.
During the interview, the Syrian leader also did not confirm or deny if his government has stockpiles of chemical weapons. He also warned America about beginning another war in a Middle Eastern country.
President Obama's Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said that the Obama Administration did not have "irrefutable, beyond-a-reasonable doubt evidence" proving that Assad approved the sarin gas attack. Nevertheless, President Obama is trying to convince a reluctant Congress to approve the use of retaliatory strikes on Syria to degrade Assad's capabilities.
Despite congressional and public disapproval of staging a military intervention in the turbulent country, Obama will continue to conduct interviews with major news networks to garner support. The president will also speak to citizens in a televised national address about the crisis on Tuesday evening.
Secretary of State John Kerry is also trying to shore up international support for U.S. action. Despite McDonough's statement, Kerry insisted that the evidence against Assad is "compelling." The British Parliament voted on Aug. 29 to bow out of the impending strike, leaving the U.S. without a major ally.
Obama stated that the U.S. may act unilaterally, without agreement from the U.N. Security Council. China and Russia have blocked prior resolutions that would impose sanctions against Assad's regime. Russia, Syria's main ally, equips the Middle Eastern country with weapons.
Syria's devastating civil war, which began as a series of protests in 2011, has deteriorated into an incredibly violent political and sectarian upheaval. The anti-Assad rebels are now a fractured group, composed of terrorists and criminals in addition to well-intentioned anti-Assad activists. Despite the consensus that the bloodshed must cease, the ambiguous motives of the rebel forces further enhances domestic and international skepticism for Obama's intervention.
The Assad exclusive marks another major interview by award-winning journalist Charlie Rose, who has interviewed figures ranging from President Jimmy Carter to cult leader Charles Manson.
The interview will air on PBS on Monday, Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.