Excerpt
SUMMARY: Since the start of Syria's war four years ago, more than 200,000 people have died and millions have been made homeless. Two rounds of peace talks have already failed. What can be done to bring an end to the war? Judy Woodruff talks to Steven Heydemann of the United States Institute of Peace, Hisham Melhem of Al Arabiya News and former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford.
JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour): On Israel’s border, a morbid anniversary passes this week for a raging war which has claimed more than 200,000 lives, and has left millions homeless.
Four years in, and there’s no end in sight to the killing in Syria. Just today, new government airstrikes hit a suburb of Damascus. And Syrian President Bashar al-Assad insisted again he’s staying until his own countrymen decide otherwise.
PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, Syria (through interpreter): Whether they say I remain or not, the Syrian people have the final say on this particular matter. Anything that came from outside the borders was only words and interference that disappears after a while.
JUDY WOODRUFF: That last was aimed at Secretary of State John Kerry. Sunday, on CBS, he suggested any effort toward a transition in Syria would include Assad after all.
JOHN KERRY, Secretary of State: I am convinced that, with the efforts of our allies and others, there will be increased pressure on Assad.
QUESTION: And you would be willing to negotiate with him?
JOHN KERRY: Well, we have to negotiate in the end.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Kerry’s words raised eyebrows, but U.S. officials quickly insisted President Obama’s policy has not changed from this in 2012.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: President al-Assad has lost legitimacy. He needs to step down.
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