Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 60 Minutes

CBS 60 Minutes: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on 60 Minutes

Charlie Rose interviews the Syrian dictator as a four-year-old civil war drags on in which his regime has been accused of devastating attacks on civilians

The following is a script from "Bashar al-Assad" which aired on March 29, 2015. Charlie Rose is the correspondent.

Four years ago, the Obama administration declared that Syria's Bashar al-Assad must go. Today, President Assad is still there, but much of the country has gone. Assad's Syrian government has lost control over significant amounts of its territory -- to either ISIS or Syrian rebel groups. Four million Syrian refugees have fled the country. More than 200,000 have died -- most from Syrian military bombing of territory controlled by his opponents.

More News On Syrian President Bashar al-Assad On 60 Minutes

Syria gets Russian arms under deals signed since conflict began: Assad -- Reuters
Syrian president says IS is expanding despite airstrikes -- AP
Bashar al-Assad says US air strikes are not easing jihadist threat -- The Telegraph
Syria's Assad: Islamic State has strengthened despite airstrikes -- CSM
Assad says ISIS has expanded since US air strikes began -- News 24
Assad: Support for Islamic State Has Expanded in Syria Since US-Led Airstrikes -- VOA
Assad 'open' to negotiations with US, says ISIS strengthening despite airstrikes -- FOX News
Syrian president says Islamic State has grown despite US airstrikes -- Deutsche Welle
Assad: Daesh has expanded since US-led airstrikes began -- Al Bawaba
Number of ISIL Militants Rising Amid Coalition Airstrikes, Assad Says -- Sputnik
Damascus Sounds Warning Over U.S.-Led Strikes On Islamic State -- Radio Free Europe
Assad: Turkey Helping IS Fighters Enter Syria -- SKY News

A Reporter Reflects On His Interview With Syrian President Assad

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (R) shakes hands with a military personnel during his visit to a military site at Darya area, on the occasion of the 68th anniversary of army day, in this handout photograph distributed by Syria's national news agency SANA on August 1, 2013. REUTERS-SANA-Handout via Reuters

Jonathan Tepperman, Washington Post: I interviewed Bashar al-Assad about Syria’s civil war. He’s still too delusional to end it.

WNU Editor: A depressing read .... because Jonathan Tepperman just validates (what most of us already know) who Syrian President Assad is. Bottom line .... he is someone who is going to stay as long as possible in his "bunker" .... and he will not leave willingly even when his own supporters are telling him to leave or to step aside for someone else.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: U.S.-Led Strikes On Syria Ineffective

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during a meeting with leadership and members of the Tartous branch of al-Baath Party in Damascus November 20, 2014, in this picture released by Syria's national news agency SANA. Credit: Reuters/SANA/Handout via Reuters

Assad Says U.S.-Led Strikes On Syria Ineffective: Paris Match Magazine -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said U.S.-led strikes in Syria have made no difference and described himself as a captain trying to save his ship, in comments to a French magazine and carried by the presidency's Twitter feed on Wednesday.

Coalition forces led by the United States began bombing Islamic State militants and other jihadist factions in Syria in September. Asked whether this had been helpful to him, Assad, whose forces have fought the same groups, told Paris Match: "You can't end terrorism with aerial strikes.

"Troops on the ground that know the land and can react are essential. That is why there haven't been any tangible results in the two months of strikes led by the coalition," he said according to interview extracts on Paris Match's website in English.

Read more ....

More News On Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Remarks That U.S.-Led Strikes On Syria Are Ineffective

Assad: US-Led Airstrikes Not Serious or Efficient -- ABC News/AP
Syrian President: U.S.-led airstrikes have caused 'no change' in ISIS strength -- CNN
Assad tells Paris Match US strikes on 'IS' ineffective -- Deutsche Welle
Coalition strikes against IS not working: Assad -- AFP
Bashar Assad mocks U.S. airstrikes on ISIS as not "serious" -- CBS/AP
ISIS Airstrikes Ineffective? Syria's Assad Criticizes US Aerial Campaign Against Islamic State -- IBTimes
Assad: US-Led Coalition Airstrikes Against IS Targets in Syria Ineffective -- Sputnik
In new interview, Bashar al-Assad demands America bomb his country harder -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX