And in the interim we are going to move forcefully on a U.N. sanctions regime.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama and President Sarkozy at the White House

Russia has been Assad's staunch ally, supplying Damascus with weapons, shielding the regime from tougher U.N. sanctions and supporting Assad in his resolve to remain in power.

NPR: Syrian Regime Battles Rebels Outside Damascus

It undid the U.N. inspection regime of the 1990s.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Remarks to the Council on Foreign Relations

He said pressure on the Assad regime has been an obstacle to a fair U.N. investigation of the use of chemical weapons.

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The ambassador also relayed our concerns at the highest levels yesterday, and we have urged the Nigeriens to detain regime members subject to prosecution and to adhere to U.N. sanctions that prohibit the travel of Qaddafi, his family members, and the sanctioned -- and his sanctioned funds.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

"It wasn't so much about planning to initiate operations on a 'date certain, ' as it was about determining if the regime would heed the warnings of the international community and comply" with a U.N. resolution, the official said.

WSJ: Libyan Raids Show Obama Doctrine in Action

We've also expressed concerns about the Assad regime's multiple broken promises in terms of the commitments they made to Kofi Annan, the previous U.N. official who was responsible for trying to broker a solution there.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House