January 10th, 2012
12:33 PM ET

Al-Assad blames 'external conspiracies' for Syrian violence

In a rare and defiant speech Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed the unabated violence in his country on "external conspiracies," criticized the Arab League as toothless and said that the international call for reform wasn't taking into account what the country was really facing: terrorism.

While he did not explicitly point the finger at a particular country, al-Assad blamed the unrest on both Western and Arab elements as world pressure mounted on his embattled government for its 10-month-long crackdown against protesters.

"The mask has fallen off these faces," he said. "No wise person denies these international conspiracies that (are) being done in order to spread fear inside. But this time, it was done with people from inside."

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Filed under: Syria
soundoff (17 Responses)
  1. RonaldTrump

    So President al-Assad is NOT a student of history! I presume he has not seen the news from Libya about Gadhafi or from Egypt about Mubarak over the past year...

    What hole do you think Mr al-Assad will choose to hide in when his time comes?

    January 10, 2012 at 12:47 pm | Report abuse |
  2. BOMBO ©

    Maybe CNN's This Just In Blog should post one more story about how "Al-Assad blames 'external conspiracies' for Syrian violence" and how "In a rare and defiant speech Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed the unabated violence in his country on external conspiracies."

    January 10, 2012 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Is it rare that he makes speeches, or is it rare that he's defiant?

      January 10, 2012 at 6:00 pm | Report abuse |
  3. THE ONE AND ONLY DRAKOREX1

    I DONT KNOW.C BUT I HOPE ITS SIX FEET DEEP AND PACKED WITH DIRT OVER IT. C

    January 10, 2012 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      You're a rather dim troll, aren't you?

      January 10, 2012 at 5:56 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Jeff al-Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    al-ASSad Why do you waste our time like this.
    Terrorism? Stand up like a man...blamming everyone else...coward!

    January 10, 2012 at 12:58 pm | Report abuse |
  5. BOMBO ©

    I'll bet he's wishing he had just stayed in London and opened an optometry clinic.

    January 10, 2012 at 1:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jeff Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

      At the time, it seemed like a good idea, but he "just couldn't see it" happening. 🙂

      January 10, 2012 at 5:40 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      @ Jeff Frank: Try the veal.

      January 10, 2012 at 5:57 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    @ Scottish Mama:
    What I meant in the other position of this was "Western."
    I can't post there anymore.
    I wonder why.

    January 10, 2012 at 1:36 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Rubiconski

    Good for him! No country would allow this blatant terrorism.

    January 10, 2012 at 1:43 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    Fascinating name, Rube.

    January 10, 2012 at 1:45 pm | Report abuse |
  9. THE ONE AND ONLY DRAKOREX1

    #6 NOT ME

    January 10, 2012 at 2:33 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    Not al-Bashad, heavens sake...Al Roker never complains about terrorists!

    January 10, 2012 at 5:43 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Scottish Mama

    @Joey- I see your point. Westerners just cannot keep our noses out of others business. Like we don't have enough troubles of our own.

    January 10, 2012 at 6:32 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    @banasy tried veal...good. Try liver pate`?

    January 10, 2012 at 8:39 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Jeff Frank (R-Ohio) "Right Wing Insanity"

    Somebody needs to rub Bashads nose in his poop. ðŸ™

    January 10, 2012 at 8:42 pm | Report abuse |
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