By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syrian’s President Bashar al-Assad, whose regime has been engaged in a brutal civil war in Syria since 2011, sat down with CBS News journalist Charlie Rose for a 60 Minutes interview last week. During the interview Assad dismissed charges that his regime has used chlorine gas against his own people and has systematic used indiscriminate barrel bombs against civilian targets as media propaganda. Assad argued that claims that his regime has committed war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons against civilians, is part of the malicious propaganda against Syria.”

Assad accused the media of participating in “malicious Propaganda” against his regime. He argued that calls for chemical weapons inspectors and accusing that his regime used chemical weapons against the Syrian people were “part of the propaganda because, as you know, in the media when it bleeds it leads. And they always look for something that bleeds, which is the chlorine gas and the barrel bombs.” He also argued “chlorine gas is not military gas” because “you can buy it anywhere” he also argued that Chlorine gas is ineffective and said that if it were more effective as a weapon “the terrorists” would have used it on a larger scale.

While Charlie Rose addressed several alleged atrocities committed by the Assad regime during the interview some journalists criticized 60 Minutes for allowing the interview to move forward, arguing that it simply gives a mouthpiece and a degree of legitimacy to an alleged war criminal. The interview was given under the condition that it be filled by Iranian television cameramen leaving the regime with a great deal of control of the interview.

Despite Assad’s continued denial that chemical weapons have been used by his regime the international community has little uncertainty about the source of the attacks. Last month, The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning, in the highest terms, the use of chlorine gas as a chemical weapon in Syria. The Council also signaled it would take Chapter IV action if such weapons were used again in Syria. Resolution 2209 (2015) was adopted with a vote of 14 in favor, zero against, and only one abstention (Venezuela). The Council adopted the resolution expressing deep concern that toxic chemicals had been used as a weapon in Syria, as concluded with a “high degree of confidence” by the Organization for the prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) fact-finding mission in Syria.  Syria’s Civil war has killed more than 200,000 people and has created more than 4 million refugees.

For more information please see:

The Washington Times – Assad Interview Just Latest Case of Malfeasance for ‘60 Minutes’ – 1 April 2015

CBS News – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on 60 Minutes – 29 March 2015

CBS News – Assad: Chlorine Gas, Barrel Bomb Claims “Propaganda” – 27 March 2015

United Nations Press Release – Adopting Resolution 2209 (2015), Security Council Condemns Use of Chlorine Gas as Weapon in Syria – 6 March 2015