<blockquote>'..the threats brandished Sunday — from harsher economic penalties to international prosecution for alleged perpetrators of war crimes — weren't new.
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President Barack Obama and the Pentagon have made clear their opposition to any U.S. military strikes against Assad's military. The U.S. is uneasy with providing more advanced weaponry to the anti-Assad rebels because of their links to extremist groups.'
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US, UK Say They're Weighing New Sanctions on Syria, Russia, October 16, 2016</blockquote>
Context<Blockquote>
Next Hope for the Middle East – Russia, Turkey and Iran to Take Joint Responsibility for Stopping the Bloodbath'..that patience with Moscow was "not unlimited." ''..the Soviet Union was cut off from Western financial markets and was effectively under permanent sanctions..'</blockquote>