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U.S. NEWS Monday 10 april 2017
Trump advisers: US seeks to fight IS and oust Syria’s Assad

regime,” McMaster said. administration officials
“Now, we are not saying sent mixed signals on the
that we are the ones who scope of U.S. involvement.
are going to effect that While Nikki Haley, the U.S.
change. What we are say- ambassador to the United
ing is, other countries have Nations, described regime
to ask themselves some change in Syria as a U.S.
hard questions. priority and inevitable, Til-
Russia should ask them- lerson suggested that last
selves, ...Why are we sup- week’s American airstrikes
porting this murderous re- in retaliation for the chemi-
gime that is committing cal attack hadn’t really
mass murder of its own changed U.S. priorities to-
population?” ward ousting Assad.
After last Tuesday’s chemi- Pressed to clarify, McMas-
cal attack in Syria, Trump ter said the goals of fighting
said his attitude toward IS and ousting Syria’s presi-
Assad “has changed very dent were somewhat “si-
much” and Secretary of multaneous” and that the
State Rex Tillerson said objective of the missile strike
“steps are underway” to was to send a “strong politi-
organize a coalition to re- cal message to Assad.” He
move him from power. did not rule out additional
Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster listens as President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago estate in But as lawmakers called on strikes if Assad continued
Palm Beach, Fla. McMaster on Sunday, April 9, 2017, left open the possibility of future U.S. military
action against Syria speaking in his first televised interview but indicated that American forces Trump to consult with Con- to engage in atrocities
would not act unilaterally to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. gress on any future military against rebel forces with
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) strikes and a longer-term either chemical or conven-
HOPE YEN H.R. McMaster pointed to strategy on Syria, Trump tional weapons.q
Associated Press dual U.S. goals of defeat-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- ing the Islamic State group
dent Donald Trump’s na- and removing Assad. But
tional security adviser on he suggested that Trump
Sunday left open the pos- was seeking a global po-
sibility of additional U.S. litical response for regime
military action against change from U.S. allies as
Syria following last week’s well as Russia, which he
missile strike but indicated said needed to reevaluate
that the United States was its support of Syria.
not seeking to act unilater- “It’s very difficult to under-
ally to oust Syrian President stand how a political solu-
Bashar Assad. tion could result from the
In his first televised interview, continuation of the Assad

Tillerson says missile strikes

carry a message for others

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sec- assault against it and justi-
retary of State Rex Tillerson fies its nuclear weapons as
says the U.S. missile strikes defensive in nature.
against a Syrian air base U.S. Navy ships are a com-
in retaliation for a chemi- mon presence in the Ko-
cal weapon attack car- rean Peninsula region and
ries a message for any serve in part as a show of
nation operating outside force. On Saturday night,
of international norms. He the Pentagon said a Navy
didn’t specify North Korea, carrier strike group was
but the context was clear moving toward the west-
enough. ern Pacific Ocean to pro-
“If you violate international vide more of a physical
agreements, if you fail to presence in the region.
live up to commitments, President Donald Trump’s
if you become a threat to national security adviser,
others, at some point a re- H.R. McMaster, described
sponse is likely to be under- the decision to send the
taken,” Tillerson told ABC’s carrier group as “prudent.”
“This Week.” He said Trump and Chinese
There was little doubt the president Xi Jinping had
missile strikes would be agreed that North Korea’s
seen in Pyongyang as a pattern of “provocative
message. The North has behavior” was unaccept-
long claimed that the U.S. able and the U.S. was act-
is preparing some kind of ing accordingly. q