U.S. Presidents Long Protected Assad

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- At least two U.S. presidents protected Syrian President
Bashar Assad despite appeals by diplomats to impose sanctions on his regime.
Government documents disclosed that at least two presidential
administrations refused to impose sanctions on the Assad regime in
connection with corruption and human rights violations. The documents
reported appeals by the U.S. embassy in Damascus for Washington to pressure
Assad to ease his brutal policies.