Assad Says he Won’t Bow Down to Pressure, Ready to Fight and Die for Syria
President Bashar Assad said Syria would not bow down in the face of mounting international pressure over his lethal crackdown on dissent, in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Assad told the British weekly newspaper he was "definitely" prepared to fight and die for Syria if faced with foreign intervention.
"This goes without saying and is an absolute," he said.
The president said he felt sorrow for each drop of Syrian blood spilt but insisted Damascus must go after armed rebel gangs and enforce law and order.
"The conflict will continue and the pressure to subjugate Syria will continue," he said.
"I assure you that Syria will not bow down and that it will continue to resist the pressure being imposed on it."
Assad accused the Arab League, whose deadline for Syria to stop its clampdown has expired, of creating a pretext for Western military intervention, which would trigger an "earthquake" across the Middle East.
"If they are logical, rational and realistic, they shouldn't do it because the repercussions are very dire. Military intervention will destabilize the region as a whole, and all countries will be affected," he said.
In an interview at the Tishreen Palace in Damascus, the 46-year-old said the solution to the violence which the United Nations says has killed more than 3,500 people since mid-March was not to pull back his troops.
"The only way is to search for the armed people, chase the armed gangs, prevent the entry of arms and weapons from neighboring countries, prevent sabotage and enforce law and order," he said.
"Like any other Syrian, when I see my country's sons bleeding, of course I feel pain and sorrow," he said. "Each spilt drop of blood concerns me personally.
"But my role as president is in deeds, not words and sorrow. My role is to think about the steps I should take to prevent more bloodshed."
The Arab League's deadline expired at 2200 GMT Saturday, but Assad dismissed their move.
"It's been done to show that there's a problem between the Arabs, thus providing Western countries with a pretext to conduct a military intervention against Syria," he said.
The league's decision last week to suspend Syria was "irrelevant,” he added.
Asked whether his security forces had been too aggressive, Assad acknowledged mistakes but insisted these were down to individuals, not the state.
"We, as a state, do not have a policy to be cruel with citizens," he said.
"The important thing is to look for the wrongdoers and hold them responsible for their actions."
He said opposition forces had exaggerated the civilian death toll, which was 619 and not 3,500.
He said they were split into three groups: protesters killed in "crossfire" between his security forces and armed gangs; the victims of sectarian murders; and his supporters who have been killed for championing the government.
Furthermore, 800 members of the security forces have died.
"A human being cannot turn the clock back but can act wisely in this matter," he said.
"My role as president -- this is my daily obsession now -- is to know how to stop this bloodshed caused by armed terrorist acts that are hitting some areas."
He insisted elections would be held in February or March, saying there would be a new parliament, a new government and then a new constitution which "will set the basis of how to elect a president,” and that he would be prepared to step down if he lost.
"I'm here to serve the country. My country is not here to serve me," he said.
"If the president is a factor of unifying the country, he has to stay. If he is a factor of dividing the country, he has to leave."
He added: "If I am to fight it will be for Syria and the people of Syria."
Assad said he was "naturally calm.”
"I do not deal with crises emotionally," he said.
over 12 years
unfortunately the very roots, fabric, DNA that make up the Syria system have been evil,corrupt,destructive to the core for 2 generations and are now beyond repair no matter how good intentioned mr. assad could ever be. you cannot tame a dragon.
over 12 years
Again he is talking about this "earthquake" in the whole region. I think he needs ta have a lesson in geography, and also to know who's who in the region, and most importantly who's with who. After doing this, the poor guy is left alone between 3 walls, the 4th one being the South border of Lebanon, from where he will escape and take a plane to retire in Iranian mountain resort.
The other thing, is probably a lesson in mathematics to learn counting the number of innocent people who have been killed till now.
Back to school Doctor!
over 12 years
I am an Iranian and belive on Arab Spring as A Godly Gift For The whole region. I am for the Syrian people against tyrinical Assad Regime!
assad says: "Furthermore, 800 members of the security forces have died"
I suppose that this allegaion is correct. If the opposition have been able to kill so many of security forces under som few months and the rebel have had just 619 many of the ordinary civilian, then Mr. Assad,s regime are finished and Iran can save it either.
Talking seriously the strategic balance between assad.s forces regionally and globally, altogether and it,s opponent favor it,s opponent . Assad has not some chances to survive the people rage! He is finnised!
over 12 years
He means ready to die for POWER. He could care less about Syria.
over 12 years
He means ready to fight for POWER.
over 12 years
The same path followed by others.....
The question will he die an honorable death, or he will be caught and killed in a sewer near u.
over 12 years
Aoun is ready to die for you as well.. so take him with you please
over 12 years
Strange I think I have already heard those words.......Reminds me of Khaddafi, Saddam, Milosevic, Ben Laden
over 12 years
"...Ready to Die..." I think we heard this before from some army general! Translation " I am getting ready to run away".
over 12 years
kadhaffi said the same thing... just missing assad calling the demonstrators as rats...
over 12 years
What an idiot. And he dares threaten the region about spreading violence to other countries? No thanks, been there done that already.
over 12 years
I cant imagine a different end
over 12 years
We are all elated to hear that you will die soon.... the rest is not important
over 12 years
The syrian people do not want you . It is their country and not yours.You are only an employee that is fired. Leave now go. shoo.scram. But you know well if you step down you will be charged for commiting crimes against humanity. so you have only one choice fight till they catch you and do things to you beyond what they did to kaddafi. You know well how much people hate you for killing their sons their brothers their sisters their fathers and most of all their kids. You know well if they lay their hands on you they will shred you to pieces.you just signed your death certificate . you will fall soon and God himself wont be able to help you. Baaabye
over 12 years
Can you say Qaddafi?
over 12 years
Soon Alawis will pay a heavy price for supporting that butcher as well as the Dhimmis Christians with the stupid theory called the alliance of minorities..which was in fact..be a dslave to assad family and we will let you live.
The region will be in peace only when bashar is gone, Iran broken and hezbollah in jail
over 12 years
What regime is not corrupt in the Middle East and North Africa? They are all the same, replacing one dictatorship for another is not the answer. Iran (corrupt), Iraq (corrupt), Egypt (corrupt), Syria (very corrupt), etc... Ask yourself what is in common? None of us have been raised with the civic education required to build a country. It is how much can someone load up and steal that defines men, not the measure of their accomplishments toward their country. Look at yourself in the mirror and you will understand what I am saying
over 12 years
What regime is not corrupt in the Middle East and North Africa? They are all the same, replacing one dictatorship for another is not the answer. Iran (corrupt), Iraq (corrupt), Egypt (corrupt), Syria (very corrupt), etc... Ask yourself what is in common? None of us have been raised with the civic education required to build a country. It is how much can someone load up and steal that defines men, not the measure of their accomplishments toward their country. Look at yourself in the mirror and you will understand what I am saying
You forgot to say that the protesters are drug addicts, and that you will search for them from house by house, room by room