Middle East

Clinton: Assad Has ‘Lost Legitimacy’

Strongest condemnation of Syrian strongman yet.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has “lost legitimacy” and the U.S. has “absolutely nothing invested in him remaining in power.” Clinton’s comments came after pro-Assad protesters attacked the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus, breaking windows and raising a Syrian flag at the U.S. building. The mob then moved on to attack the home of Robert Ford, the U.S. ambassador. Clinton’s words were her strongest condemnation of the Syrian regime yet. "If anyone, including President Assad, thinks that the United States is secretly hoping that the regime will emerge from this turmoil to continue its brutality and repression, they are wrong,” she said.