Press TV- The United States owes “an obligation” to the people of Syria as Washington is ultimately responsible for the situation in the war-ravaged country, says an American author.

Stephen Lendman, an author and radio host based in Chicago, made the remarks in a Press TV interview on Tuesday.

His comments followed an executive order, issued by President Donald Trump on Friday to impose a 90-day entry ban on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia, block refugees from Syria indefinitely, and suspend all refugee admissions for 120 days.

“Syrians, most of all, need to be helped because America ravaged the country… through bombings and terrorists that are used as imperial foot soldiers; so America has an obligation to the people of Syria,” Lendman noted.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] A Syrian refugee youth tries to clear the water that flooded his family tent at an unofficial refugee camp in the village of Deir Zannoun in Lebanon's Bekaa valley on January 31, 2017. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]


‘Political’ ban

The commentator further rejected the Trump administration’s argument that the ban is a necessary step to protect Americans.

“The issue behind this executive order has very little… or nothing to do with protecting America, its borders, and national security; It has everything to do with politics,” Lendman said.

Trump’s move has triggered massive protests across the country and overseas while it has faced opposition from rights groups, Muslims, Democrats, and even some of the staff at the new administration’s State Department.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that the State Department employees who oppose the new immigration policy can quit if they are unhappy.


[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Demonstrators hold protest signs at the South Carolina Statehouse during a demonstration in response to Donald Trump's Muslim ban. (Photo by AFP)[/caption]


Spicer’s comments followed reports of a “dissent” memo in the department.

The draft, which has been circulating among diplomats and associates abroad over the past few days, denounces the ban as an “un-American” move and warns that it would actually harm efforts to protect the US from terrorists.

Lendman questioned the move, asking, “Why haven’t they complained about America’s imperial wars?”

He argued that the move is still “important,” but they should have also reacted accordingly under previous administrations.

“Much more important is complaining about America’s imperial wars and all the horrors they inflict on… mostly civilians.”