Syria’s Assad shares distorted worldview

In a lengthy interview Wednesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad proposed a simple solution to the conflict in his country: for the United States and its allies to get out of the way and let Syria, with the help of Russia, crush its opponents. In the interview, he deflected all blame for Syria’s six-year civil war, which has fueled the worst international humanitarian crisis since World War II. He said he holds the United States responsible for intentionally bombing a Syrian army position ending last week’s cease-fire (U.S. leaders insist it was an accident) and for striking an aid convoy bound for Aleppo (despite evidence the Russians were behind it). State Department Spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, “It’s difficult to see how these ridiculous claims deserve a response, except to say they prove yet again the degree to which Assad has lost his legitimacy to govern.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.