“They are not my forces. They are military forces that belong to the government.… I don't own them. I am [the] president. I don't own the country so they are not my forces.”

—  Bashar al-Assad

Interview with Barbara Walters (7 Dec. 2011) on the military escalation of the Syrian conflict

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Bashar al-Assad 10
President of Syria 1965

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“They are not my forces, they are military forces that belong to the government.… I don't own them. I am president, I don't own the country so they are not my forces.”

Bashar al-Assad (1965) President of Syria

Interview with Barbara Walters (7 Dec. 2011) on the military escalation of the Syrian conflict

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“I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest.”

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Source: On the Duty of Civil Disobedience

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“I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own tastes.”

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“I am in favor of Iran, and all Arab Muslim countries, having nuclear energy both for peaceful and military purposes, because Allah said to us: "Prepare against them all the force you can.”

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