News Exercise #183

1. What does further US action depend on?
2. The Assad spokesperson does not accept the American insistence that there is evidence of Syria using the chemical weapons.
3. Complete this comment starting at 1:49
A major reason why ____________ is that ___________, with different _____________. President Assad’s _____________, the biggest Shia Muslim country.
These days, ____________ are mainly Sunni Muslim Islamists. Some ____________; others are jihadists. Rebels _________.
There’s also _____________, led by the US and its allies.
Think of it all as ____________. Sometimes ______________, and now Donald Trump ____________.

Answers:
1. What does further US action depend on?
It depends on what Syria does next. Further use of chemical weapons may provoke stronger action by the US, but the US may accept a Syrian return to “conventional killing”.
2. The Assad spokesperson does not accept the American insistence that there is evidence of Syria using the chemical weapons. According to her, why is America making this claim?
She says that Syria is just being targeted, like Iraq was, because Syria has an army and is against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
3. Complete this comment starting at 1:49
A major reason why the Syrian was is so hard to stop is that so many countries are involved, with different interests and objectives. President Assad’s main allies are Russia and Iran, the biggest Shia Muslim country.
These days, the rebels fighting the regime are mainly Sunni Muslim Islamists. Some are approved by the West; others are jihadists. Rebels sometimes fight each other.
There’s also the war against so-called Islamic State, led by the US and its allies.
Think of it all as layers of conflict. Sometimes they’re parallel, and sometimes they intersect, and now Donald Trump has added a whole new layer.