Beck: “President Obama Is Telling Americans That We Need To Side With The Governments Like Syria”

Beck: “As They March Their People Off To Death ... We're Hoping For Change.” From the June 6 edition of Beck's Fox News show:

BECK: OK, this is the Israeli-Syrian border, where 25 are dead, sent over by the Syrians. So, the mean, evil Israelis have killed 25, but the kind, gentle, loving, sweet, pie-making Syrians have only gunned down 70 themselves. Hmm. Oh, and they've got tanks and stuff in the streets. But don't worry, China does that, and we're all going to be like China soon. They're just trying to attempt to quell the protesters there.

Meanwhile, President Obama is telling Americans that we need to side with the governments like Syria because all they want is peace and change. Oh, I'm hoping for it. I have a feeling we're going to get it. As they march their people off to death -- isn't it great? -- we're hoping for change. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 6/6/11]

But Obama, Administration Officials Have Repeatedly Criticized Syria's Actions Against Protesters, Israel

Obama: “We Strongly Oppose The Syrian Government's Treatment Of Its Citizens.” From an April 22 statement by Obama:

The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of force by the Syrian government against demonstrators. This outrageous use of violence to quell protests must come to an end now. We regret the loss of life and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims, and with the Syrian people in this challenging time.

The Syrian Government's moves yesterday to repeal Syria's decades-old Emergency Law and allow for peaceful demonstrations were not serious given the continued violent repression against protesters today. Over the course of two months since protests in Syria began, the United States has repeatedly encouraged President Assad and the Syrian Government to implement meaningful reforms, but they refuse to respect the rights of the Syrian people or be responsive to their aspirations. The Syrian people have called for the freedoms that all individuals around the world should enjoy: freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, and the ability to freely choose their leaders. President Assad and the Syrian authorities have repeatedly rejected their calls and chosen the path of repression. They have placed their personal interests ahead of the interests of the Syrian people, resorting to the use of force and outrageous human rights abuses to compound the already oppressive security measures in place before these demonstrations erupted. Instead of listening to their own people, President Assad is blaming outsiders while seeking Iranian assistance in repressing Syria's citizens through the same brutal tactics that have been used by his Iranian allies. We call on President Assad to change course now, and heed the calls of his own people.

We strongly oppose the Syrian government's treatment of its citizens and we continue to oppose its continued destabilizing behavior more generally, including support for terrorism and terrorist groups. The United States will continue to stand up for democracy and the universal rights that all human beings deserve, in Syria and around the world. [“A Statement by President Obama on Syria,” WhiteHouse.gov, 4/22/11]

Secretary Of State Clinton Denounces “Reprehensible Human Rights Abuses Against The Syrian People.” From a May 6 statement by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton:

I am deeply troubled that the Syrian Government chooses to continue to use force and intimidation against the Syrian people. The United States condemns in the strongest terms the Syrian Government's actions over the past five weeks and calls on it to immediately cease the killing, arrest, and harassment of protestors, activists, and journalists. I am particularly troubled by ongoing reports of deaths of citizens at the hands of the Syrian Government, including accounts today that at least 30 people were killed when Syrian security forces again opened fire on peaceful protestors throughout the country. On behalf of the United States, I extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives.

The Syrian people, like people everywhere, have the inherent right to exercise their universal freedoms, including peaceful assembly, expression, and speech. The Syrian Government must respond to the Syrian people's call for change. It must realize that violence and intimidation will not answer their call.

The Syrian Government's actions are neither those of a responsible government nor a credible member of the international community. We will continue to hold to account senior Syrian officials and others responsible for the reprehensible human rights abuses against the Syrian people. We welcome the European Union's decision to join us in these efforts with similar steps. We will also continue to work both unilaterally and with our international partners to determine the most effective next steps if the Syrian Government chooses not to abandon its current path. [State Department, 5/6/11]

State Department: Border Clashes “An Effort By The Syrian Government To Play A Destabilizing Role.” From a May 16 post on the Foreign Policy blog The Cable:

The State Department is publicly blaming Syria for the clashes between Israel Defense Forces soldiers and unarmed protesters that resulted in over a dozen deaths Sunday, but officials didn't offer any direct evidence to support that assertion.

“We do think that this is an effort by the Syrian government to play a destabilizing role,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said at Monday's briefing in response to a question from The Cable. “It's clearly an effort by them to take focus off the situation that's happening right now in Syria. And it's a cynical use of the Palestinian cause to encourage violence along its border as it continues to repress its own people within Syria.”

[...]

A State Department official, speaking on background basis, explained the thinking to The Cable.

“It's a pattern that we've seen. I don't know that we have any direct evidence, but I think we're pretty confident that this is something that Damascus has done in the past and we believe they have had a hand in it,” the official said. [The Cable, Foreign Policy, 5/16/11]

White House Press Secretary: U.S. “Strongly Opposed To The Syrian Government's Involvement In Inciting Yesterday's Protests In The Golan Heights.” From a May 16 post on the Foreign Policy blog The Cable:

Toner's comments follow those of White House spokesman Jay Carney, who said on Monday morning that the United States is “strongly opposed to the Syrian government's involvement in inciting yesterday's protests in the Golan Heights. Such behavior is unacceptable and does not serve as a distraction from the Syrian government's ongoing repression of demonstrators in its own country.”

Both spokesmen affirmed Israel's right to defend its own borders. Neither offered any direct evidence that the Syrian government was directly involved. The violence along the Golan Heights marked the first clashes on the Syrian-Israeli border in 37 years. [The Cable, Foreign Policy, 5/16/11]

Obama: “President Assad Now Has A Choice: He Can Lead That Transition, Or Get Out Of The Way.” From Obama's May 19 speech on the Middle East:

Most recently, the Syrian regime has chosen the path of murder and the mass arrests of its citizens. The United States has condemned these actions, and working with the international community we have stepped up our sanctions on the Syrian regime -- including sanctions announced yesterday on President Assad and those around him.

The Syrian people have shown their courage in demanding a transition to democracy. President Assad now has a choice: He can lead that transition, or get out of the way. The Syrian government must stop shooting demonstrators and allow peaceful protests. It must release political prisoners and stop unjust arrests. It must allow human rights monitors to have access to cities like Dara'a; and start a serious dialogue to advance a democratic transition. Otherwise, President Assad and his regime will continue to be challenged from within and will continue to be isolated abroad.

So far, Syria has followed its Iranian ally, seeking assistance from Tehran in the tactics of suppression. And this speaks to the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime, which says it stand for the rights of protesters abroad, yet represses its own people at home. [WhiteHouse.gov, 5/19/11]

State Department: “We Reject The Syrian Government's Justification Of Its Tactics As Necessary To Maintain 'Stability.' ” From a May 19 State Department fact sheet on Syria:

We reject the Syrian government's justification of its tactics as necessary to maintain “stability.” The Asad regime remains the source of instability as it foments violence by meeting peaceful protests with deadly force and mass arrests. Despite the Syrian government's violent repression and blatant disregard for the human rights of its citizens, the Syrian people continue to call for their legitimate demands to be met. The Syrian people have made clear that the status quo is unacceptable and that the Syrian government must meet their legitimate aspirations and end the killing, torture, and arbitrary detentions of protestors and activists. [State Department, 5/19/11]

Clinton: “We Condemn Any Effort To Suppress The Syrian People's Exercise Of Their Rights.” From remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton:

We are deeply concerned by reports that Internet service has been shut down across much of Syria, as have some mobile communication networks. We condemn any effort to suppress the Syrian people's exercise of their rights to free expression, assembly, and association.

Two weeks ago, the White House released the International Strategy for Cyberspace, which noted that “States should not arbitrarily deprive or disrupt individuals' access to the Internet or other networked technologies.” We condemn such shutdowns in the strongest terms.

The Syrian government has a history of restricting the Internet in an attempt to prevent the Syrian people from accessing and sharing information. The Syrian government must understand that attempting to silence its population cannot prevent the transition currently taking place. We believe that even in the face of significant obstacles, the Syrian people will -- and should -- find a way to make their voices heard.

The United States stands for universal human rights, including freedom of expression, and we call on all governments to respect them. [State Department, 6/4/11]

State Department: Syria's Actions Are “Provocative,” Israel “Has A Right To Defend Itself.” From a Jewish Telegraphic Agency article on an incident in which “hundreds of protesters from Syria attempted to breach the border with Israel on the Golan Heights”:

The U.S. State Department backed up Israel's right to self-defense.

“We call for all sides to exercise restraint. Provocative actions like this should be avoided. Israel, like any sovereign nation, has a right to defend itself,” the State Dept. said in a statement. “We are deeply troubled by events that took place earlier today in the Golan Heights resulting in injuries and the loss of life.” [Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 6/5/11]