Syria and The United States

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May 29th, 2012
09:59 PM ET



KTH: Syrian diplomat expelled from U.S.

The U.S. and eight other countries ask Syrian diplomats to leave in retaliation for the needless slaughter of more than 100 people, including dozens of children, in Houla. Syria’s president Basher al-Assad has condemned the killings and promises an investigation. But Keeping Them Honest, after 15 months of violence and reports of 12,000 deaths the people of Syria deserve more. They want a promise to end the bloodshed.

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May 29th, 2012
10:33 PM ET



.. and Journalist Alex Thomson report.

Who shelled, murdered children in Syria?

Journalist Alex Thomson explains the evidence pointing to who was behind the slaughter of children in Houla, Syria.

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May 29th, 2012
09:29 PM ET



.. and Thomas Friedman report.

What's U.S. role in ending Syria deaths?

Thomas Friedman says the U.N. ceasefire looks like a failure, but the U.S. could help facilitate a deal with Russia.

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May 29th, 2012
06:01 PM ET



.. and Thomas Friedman report.

Tonight [Last Night] on AC360: Thomas Friedman: Must prevent civil war in Syria

The United States, along with the Netherlands, Australia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Canada are expelling Syrian diplomats in retaliation for the massacre of more than 100 people in the city of Houla over the weekend.

Most of the victims, including dozens of children, came face-to-face with their killers. According to reports, armed men went house to house slaughtering innocent civilians. Video of the aftermath shows a horrific scene — small bodies covered in white burial shrouds.

The al-Assad regime claims “terrorists” are behind the killings. A U.N. official said it’s clear “government forces were involved.”

Even with a small number of U.N. monitors on the ground in Syria, the government has never complied with the U.N.-backed peace plan they agreed to weeks ago.

Tonight Anderson speaks with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman about the increasingly dire humanitarian crisis, and the world’s inaction. Friedman believes the priority is to prevent civil war and state collapse, predicting “a terrible human disaster” if the violence and chaos escalates.

Friedman also talks about the need to remove al-Assad from power, either through a deal brokered by Russia, or through an internal revolt and military coup.

Watch a preview and see the full conversation tonight on AC360 at 8 and 10pm ET. Share your thoughts with Anderson on Twitter