The conflict in Syria has taken a turn with the Obama administration saying there’s no doubt that Syrian President Bashar al Assad has used chemical weapons against his own people with deadly results. Prospect Park Mayor, and Syrian native, Mohamed Khairullah has spoken out numerous times wanting the United States to go beyond words. He told NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that he wants to see Assad removed from power, but above all else he wants to end the loss of live in his homeland.
At a minimum, Khairullah said the U.S. should attack military installations. “I’ve said to people I won’t believe it til I see it so now the president’s words are to the test,” he said. “This is an opportunity for the freedom fighters to gain grounds against Assad. I don’t advocate for our own military to go inside but I think the Syrian people need help to gain their freedom.”
While Khairullah said there are some Assad supporters, he added there will always be supporters of dictators because some do benefit from the person in power. “But most people who have suffered from this criminal family for over four decades want this regime to go,” he said.
Khairullah has taken several trips to Syria to deliver aid to the refugee camps there. He said talk of atrocities occurring is very big there. “People have testified to the symptoms of these chemical attacks,” he said. “There’s no doubt, as the White House has confirmed today, that no one has the ability to deliver such chemical weapons and chemical attacks except the Syrian regime.”
When the attacks with chemical weapons were smaller, Khairullah said the regime claimed it was from hand grenades and some believed the opposition may have gotten some resources and used them. But Khairullah said the latest attacks have killed more than 1,700 people and United Nations inspectors have rockets that were used. “The only entity that could do such attacks is the Syrian regime,” he said.
Some are worried that if the United States takes action and Assad is removed, the so-called freedom fighters will turn against the interests of the western world and their own people, much like what happened in Afghanistan. While Khairullah admits there are radical elements in Syria, he believes certain groups can be trusted.
“The Syrian Coalition at this point created what they call a national army of 6,000 people. We need to empower this national army that apparently has been trusted by the Syrian Coalition, which the United States is working with. They don’t have radical elements with them,” Khairullah said. “We need to empower them to liberate their country, then combat the radical elements in Syria.”
When asked if attacking the chemical facilities would be enough for him, Khairullah said, “I’d love for Assad to go. But anything at a minimal that prevents loss of life is acceptable. But the ultimate goal is for Assad to go.”