Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) says committing U.S. ground troops in Syria would be a 'serious mistake.'
By CNN's Susan Garraty
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is demanding the release of kidnapped Syrian lawyer and human rights activist Razan Zaitouneh. Zaitouneh, her husband and two other human rights activists were abducted from offices in Douma, Syria in December, 2013. No group is taking responsibility for the kidnapping. The day before her disappearance, Zaitouneh published a highly critical assesment of the now infamous ISIS militants
“We will not forget her. We will not forget the work she did, we will not forget the abuses she exposed, or the hope she cherished, the hope for a more peaceful and eventually democratic Syria,” Clinton said while giving the Vital Voices Global Trailblazer Award to Rana Zaitouneh, who accepted the recognition on behalf of her sister at a ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington. FULL POST
By CNN's Deena Zaru
President Obama reaffirmed Wednesday in his commencement speech at West Point that the United States will not intervene militarily in Syria, stating that there is “no military solution that can eliminate the terrible suffering anytime soon.”
Taking boots on the ground off the table, the President supports a collaborative and political approach. He pledged to work with Congress to “ramp up” support for elements of the Syrian opposition who "offer the best alternative to terrorists and a brutal dictator."
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken says the U.S. has not lost global influence and is still putting pressure on the Assad regime.
"Assad has forfeited any right he has to leading his country. ... There is no way that Syria can find peace and stability with Assad in power."
Al Cardenas, Kevin Madden, Joe Lockhart and Donna Brazile discuss U.S. relations with Syria and Iran.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on the situation in Syria.
Our panel talks about the effects of the Syrian crisis on the Obama presidency and his ability to push legislation through.
Our political panel talks to Candy about the ups and downs of the Obama administration's handling of Syria.
House Intelligence Committee Mike Rogers (R-MI), and a panel of lawmakers: Congressmen Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). react to the U.S., Russia – Syria deal.
Our panel debates tough political choices facing lawmakers.