Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power on Tuesday night tweeted criticism of the Trump administration's policy towards Syria.
The criticism came after reports that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad again used chemical weapons to attack his own people. President Trump released a statement condemning the attacks and placing blame on the Obama administration's lack of action against Assad.
Today’s chemical attack in Syria against innocent people, including women and children, is reprehensible and cannot be ignored by the civilized world. These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the past administration’s weakness and irresolution. President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a "red line" against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing. The United States stands with our allies across the globe to condemn this intolerable attack.
Powers blamed the Trump administration for empowering Assad to use chemical weapons against his own people.
Backed by Russia&Iran, declared permanent by Trump, Assad regime in #Syria feels safe to do what it wants. Gassing people is what it wants.
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) April 5, 2017
Current U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said last week that the Trump administration isn't focused on Assad leaving power as a top priority.
"You pick and choose your battles and when we're looking at this, it's about changing up priorities and our priority is no longer to sit there and focus on getting Assad out," Haley said.
Haley's predecessor interpreted the statement as the White House condoning Assad's authority and allowing him to continue attacking Syrian civilians.
But Twitter reminded Power of her inaction as the ambassador to the U.N. when it came to the Syrian civil war.
Of all the people in the world who should hold their tongue, it's the woman who wrote A PROBLEM FROM HELL & then allowed another to happen. https://t.co/KyBPQ60e74
— Jeff B/DDHQ (@EsotericCD) April 5, 2017
2012: "red line"
2013: nothing
2014: nothing
2015: nothing
2016: nothing
2017: "Trump’s fault"#AlmostFunnyButNot https://t.co/ieLvWJLjW1— Aaron Klein (@AaronKlein) April 5, 2017
Yeah, I can't believe Trump really screwed up #Syria so badly after all those years of stability since Obama drew that red line. https://t.co/7wKVPWi4Ae
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) April 5, 2017
After Obama failed to enforce his infamous "red-line," Power stood by and allowed the Syrian civil war to continue. She released statements condemning attacks that Assad and his allies perpetuated against civilians, but it did not stop the violence.
Back in December, Power gave a forceful response to Russia and the Syrian regime at the U.N. In the response, she asked if Assad and his allies feel any shame for the slaughter and suffering of his own people.
"Are you truly incapable of shame? Is there literally nothing that can shame you? Is there no act of barbarism against civilians, no execution of a child that gets under your skin?" Power said.