Obama Says Syria Action Is Sign Putin’s Leadership Slipping
- President tells 60 Minutes that Assad is Putin's 'sole ally'
- Putin running Russian economy into the ground, Obama says
A Syrian rebel walks the streets of Aleppo, Syria.
Source: AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Russia’s military action in Syria is evidence that President Vladimir Putin’s hold on leadership is eroding, President Barack Obama said in an interview with "60 Minutes."
Obama cast Russia’s decision to launch airstrikes in Syria as a desperate move prompted by the weakness of Bashar al-Assad, who has sought to retain power amid a brutal civil war.