Ambassador Ford’s Interview With ABC

Ambassador Robert Ford interviewed with ABC’s Christiane Amanpour on August 4 and discussed the increasingly violent situation in Syria.  (See video here).

In the interview, Ford emphasized the U.S. government’s position that “Assad and his government will be left in the past.”  Additionally, he called the violence in the city of Hama “grotesque and abhorrent.”  Ford also emphasized that the U.S. should “try to ratchet up the pressure” through new sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

When speaking of his recent trip to Hama to stand with the peaceful protesters, Ford responded to the Syrian government’s reaction by saying, “They’re certainly angry with my trip to Hama.  I don’t particularly care, because we have to show our solidarity with peaceful protesters. I’d do it again tomorrow if I had to… I’m going keep moving around the country. I can’t stop.”

Additionally, Ford reported that he has utilized Facebook to reach out to Syrian citizens in an effort to meet with them.