Bold leadership in action.

(USA Today) — President Obama is reportedly planning to call publicly for Syria President Bashar Assad to step down in the wake of his government’s violent attacks against its people.

Certainly his aides have made Obama’s desires clear.

“The president believes that Syria would be better off without President Assad,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

And certainly human rights groups are calling on Obama to be more aggressive in seeking Assad’s ouster, both through public pressure and stepped-up sanctions.

“The atrocities that the Syrian government has perpetrated against its own civilians are beyond the pale, and it is incumbent upon all members of the international community, especially democratic governments led by the United States, to do everything possible to bring an end to this brutality,” said David Kramer, president of Freedom House.

Obama is said to be weighing a public statement calling for Assad’s removal, according to new reports.