Anne W. Patterson: “I don't see any real alternative to U.S. policy except to push ahead on these objectives.”

Certainly not. The President and certainly the Secretary have said many times that Assad's departure is absolutely critical to any future in Syria.

Let me stress that that is our goal, to get Assad out.

The Saudis, over the past 15 years, have instituted a very broad range of steps that have cut off financing for terrorists.

We have provided over $2 billion, $2.5 billion, for humanitarian assistance inside Syria.