The White House is considering new sanctions against Syria amid a crackdown by that country’s government against pro-democracy demonstrators. Syria is one of only four countries on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List and is already subject to heavy sanctions, limiting U.S. options.
As a result, new sanctions are expected to focus on the assets of Syrian officials close to President Bashar al-Assad. Such a strategy would mimic actions taken by the U.S. against Libyan dictator Col. Moammar Gadhafi.
Asked Monday about possible sanctions against individuals in the regime, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the administration was looking at targeted sanctions.
“Again, targeted – you can parse that – but targeted sanctions,” he said.
The administration imposed a similar strategy with Libya, said Richard Sawaya, director of USA Engage, which promotes alternatives to unilateral U.S. sanctions. He also noted that Iran sanctions legislation approved by Congress in 2010 targeted individuals in Iran.
At least 67 Palestinian children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since a United States-brokered...
Convicted Israeli spy Jonathan J. Pollard downplayed the controversy around his private meeting with U.S. Ambassador...
The Israeli military carried out one of the deadliest attacks on Gaza since the “ceasefire” took...
