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Subscribe to RSSFighting continues as UN peace broker Kofi Annan arrives in Damascus. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Updated at 3:34 p.m. ET: MOSCOW -- Russia further backed away from its support of Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday, saying his government bears the main responsibility for the violence in the country and calling for a full investigation into its role in the deaths of more than 100 civilians in Houla.
"Both sides have obviously had a hand in the deaths of innocent people, including several dozen women and children. This area is controlled by the rebels, but it is also surrounded by government troops," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks in Moscow with visiting British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Meanwhile, international mediator Kofi Annan, who arrived in Damascus Monday for talks with senior Syrian officials, said he was horrified by the killings in Houla and urged the Syrian government to take bold steps to show it was serious about reaching a peaceful solution to the country's crisis.
Lavrov spoke a day after Russia agreed to join the rest of the U.N. Security Council in blaming the Syrian government for attacking residential areas in Houla, a collection of villages near the central city of Homs. The council, however, avoided saying who was responsible for the massacre of at least 108 men, women and children.
Opposition activists said Assad's forces killed at least 41 people in an artillery assault on the city of Hama shortly after the U.N. Security Council condemned Friday's massacre in nearby Houla. The authorities in Damascus issued a denial that troops played any role at Houla, rejecting the U.N. version of events.
Lavrov said there was no doubt that government forces had used artillery and tanks to shell Houla, but he noted that many of the dead appeared to have been shot at close range or tortured. "The guilt has to be determined objectively," he said. "No one is saying that the government is not guilty, and no one is saying that the armed militants are not guilty."
Yuri Kadobnov / AFP - Getty Images
Visiting British Foreign Minister William Hague (L) looks at Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during their meeting on Syria in Moscow on Monday.
But Lavrov did issue some of Russia's harshest criticism of Assad to date, saying the Syrian government "bears the main responsibility for what is going on" because it is failing to provide for the security of Syrian citizens. He hedged the criticism by claiming that Syria's government is facing an increased threat from terrorists, whose bombings have the "clear signature of al-Qaida."
Alexei Malashenko, a Middle East expert with the Carnegie Moscow Center, said Russia can no longer defend Assad's government and may be warning him that he needs to change his approach.
"Bashar Assad is driving himself and Russia into a corner," Malashenko said. "If this goes on, Russia will have no other option" but to pull its support. "Bashar has definitely gotten the sense that he may lose Russia's sympathy and he may step back a bit."
Syria blamed terrorists for the Sunday massacre of more than 100 people, including children. Washington isn't buying it. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Lavrov and Hague both called for greater efforts to implement special envoy Annan's six-point peace plan, which calls on both sides to respect a cease-fire.
Speaking shortly after arriving in Damascus, Annan said he expected to have "serious and frank discussions" with Assad. The two men are due to meet on Tuesday, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
Clinton: Syria leader's 'rule by murder' must end
Annan said the massacre in Houla was "an appalling crime, and the (U.N.) Security Council has rightly condemned it." Western countries have blamed Assad's forces for the killings, a charge Damascus denies.
"I urge the (Syrian) government to take bold steps to signal that it is serious in its intention to resolve this crisis peacefully, and for everyone involved to help create the right context for a credible political process," Annan told reporters on his arrival in Damascus.
Shaam News Network / Reuters
A resident of Houla shows a body to a UN observer as they stand near the bodies of people whom anti-government protesters say were killed by government security forces on Friday.
"It's right, as Sergey Lavrov has just done, to call on all parties to cease violence, and we are not arguing that all violence in Syria is the responsibility of the Assad regime, although it has the primary responsibility for such violence," Hague said.
Lavrov added that "we don't support the Syrian government, we support Kofi Annan's plan."
The Russian envoy called for everyone in the international community to exert more pressure on both sides to implement Annan's plan, saying it was not clear from talks with opposition members that they were getting the message that the plan had full international support.
He said talk about the need for Assad to step down cast doubt on the West's commitment to the Annan plan and encouraged the opposition to keep up the fight.
Hague, however, confirmed that Britain still believes Assad should stand aside.
"But the important thing is that the Annan plan is pursued in whatever way it can be pursued," he said. "The alternatives are the Annan plan or ever-increasing chaos in Syria, and a descent closer and closer to all-out civil war and collapse."
'Boiling point': On Lebanon's Syria Street, a civil war brews
China on Monday also condemned the killings of civilians in Houla and called for an end to the violence, but gave no indication it was rethinking its strategy toward the fighting in Syria.
NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from war-torn Homs showing how parts of the city have been ravaged by fighting while others spared.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said that Beijing fully supports Annan's mediation efforts and the UN monitors.
The protests against Assad began in March 2011 and turned into an uprising after his government responded with a violent crackdown on dissent. The U.N. estimated that at least 9,000 people were killed in the first year of the conflict, but hundreds more have been killed since then.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
The Cry for Peace and Security.
Hey Russia how many @!$%#in people have to die before you stop all support? Life seems to have no or little value over there, what a shame.
Where was the outrage when just as many people died from suicide bombings perpetrated by US and western armed proxies?
It's our own CIA
http://www.informationclearinghouse(dot)info/article31437.htm
Change the (dot) to a .
just ask the syrian people. Al-qieda is CIA in syria.
,
Blair did it for the money and ego quite obviously, and expects to continue to have an important part in the Ashkenazim world empire. Britain has remained severely weakened since the "bail out", consolidating supremacy for the elite and the dynastic ruling class, with the Rothschild Zionists firmly at the helm.
Breaking News. Russia says Syrian civilian's are now being slaughtered by Syrian civilian's. and it's the Syrian government fault.
Clearly the Syrian government has failed to restore order. The rebels are still terrorizing the country. The Syrian government needs to make an all out push to crush the rebels, force them to surrender their arms, and restore the legitimate government's full control of the country.
Russia is the Evil Empire -- Reagan is still right
when words quickly transform into guns...
a shame
i dont understand how this can still continue, but anyone still blaming russia instead of syria is in WAY over their heads...
This whole world is so corrupt and greedy that they refuse to see and do the right things.
Ah yes, the UN. The world police station, who's famous for being horribly indecisive, and solidly full of indecision. Brought to you since 1945. Bureaucracy at it's fullest most complete stage.
Well, could be worse, Obama could be in charge.
Wait a minute folks.....Russia is waiting for the Presidential election to be over so he can use Syria as a pawn in their "chess game" concerning the European missle defense shield (whisper, whisper), of course at the expense of Syrian lives.
Everything is "Al-Qaida .......... "......clear signature of al-Qaida."
How can this organization (that has almost been decimated) be responsible for everything? "Al-Qaida" seems to becoming a "Buzzzz Word" for every revolutionary movement in the world ... if your looking for a excuse to eliminate them...
I guess JohnCarter is in full support of torturing and killing children. I can only assume he either has no idea about what is really going on in syria or he's just a jerk trying to start crap. A government power that tortures and kills it's people's children as a means to try and drive people into submission as a response to what was first peaceful protests has only one place and purpose and that is in hell burning for all eternity.
i pray God sends angels very soon and burns them alive where they stand. God save the children of syria.
Keep on crying for peace!
Which Muslim nation in ME has "love" and "peace" left?
It is funny for Russia and China to talk like saints with their own Chechnya, Xinjiang and Tibet!
Their statements appeared like Hillary Clinton's script!
@piggyotry
Reagab saud Soviet Union was an evil empire, not Russia. Get a grip.
It is the responsibility of the Syrian regime to find a way to make peace in this country. Where the hell is Assad and what is he doing?
He must be supporting his Military cause no one's being charged..They can do what ever they want in the world arena..
Me to Obama: If Assad did this, and he is still in power in another week, don't expect to be re-elected.
I don't think it's our presidents job to go into another country and fix their problems. The UN is supposed to take care of it and since we are a member , we work with the other counries to try and fix it. Not an election item I don't think.
Why is it our President's job alone? For years and years I've heard that the US should not be the policeman of the world.
It is an election item in so far as I will despise him if he just stands by like Clinton did in Rwanda and allows this to continue, knowing he CAN do something about it. We are not the most powerful country in the world for no reason. We have options.
Chris, this is the sad thing about US politics: Clinton decided to go into Somalia in response to the criticism the Republicans were making of him for being too soft on terrorists. But then 18 US soldiers get slaughtered in that operation and now Clinton's entire political life is at risk because of it.
Then, when the Rwanda genocide happens Clinton decides to take it easy and not get the US involved in it for fear he'll be criticized for using US troops in another "failed" Africa country and risk the troops lives, etc, etc.
Then when Obama uses US power to help Lybia the Replubicans are all over him because things did not turn out perfect in Lybia. How can Obama now use US influence to help things in Syria when he knows the Republicans will get on his case if things don't turn out smoothly in Syria?
Republicans need to get real for once and understand they need to work with their own President to help make the world a better place and not attack and attack him just so the Republicans can score a few political points.
It's about time the Repukes do some serious growing up.
Assad and his wife are out shopping and looking for first run movies and popcorn. They don't care it seems how many people are being killed just as long as they can still live their lifestyle.
Since when is it Obama's responsibility to be day care provider for a bunch of fifth century goobers who can't resolve their own fights and issues themselves? This is how our Country has gotten into trouble, not to mention TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS in debt, in the first place.
Assad is holding back his military. That's a mistake. He needs to let them crush the rebellion, seize all of the rebels' arms, and hang their leaders as traitors.
I don't know what HE is doing, but his wife is probably shopping for a new diamond necklace.
the US needs to know its place as well...
we tend to keep out if another super power is willing to play a hand, which russia has rarely been doing compared to the US, but at least the UK is onto this as well
@truthwillsetufreee: comment on somthing productive...your comment is just slandering people you dont even know. which btw is all u conservative do
if u have nothing to type, dont type a cheesy one liner meant to provoke and insult
Olias:
You haven't grown up yet.
Throughout US History, when there is a President of a different Party, whether Democrat or Republican, they cannot work with Congress or the House of Representatives if there is a Majority of a different Political Party.
None of them ever agree on what is presented to them. If the Majority is the same party, things get accomplished. That is why Obama uses his Executive Order Frequently; never consulting with the "other" Party---hence the Health Care Program and what it said in the 2700 pages; it was slammed through.
I'm not sure where your moral center is, but mine has a problem when women and children are being hacked to death. I don't need some belief in a god to know that that is wrong. What's really wrong is when people are willing to stand back and watch something like this happen and whine that "they'd help but it would cost too much money". I spent 13 years in the Navy (out in '03) and had a chance to see these Muslims, and let me tell you this, those kids have just as many arms, legs, and smiles as ours do. You'd do something if someone was killing ours, but letting theirs die is ok because it's their problem and you don't want to pay for it?
Since when is it wrong to do the right thing?
It is not our responsibility to do dirty jobs for Saudis, oil companies, Jewish lobbys, bankers and manipulators.
If interfering in Syria and Iran become election issues for Obama, where do Bushes, Blairs, many Republicans and some Democrats, some Jewish lobbyists deserve to be for Iraqi wars!
Don't you people think: at least some deserve to be tried as "war criminals"?
Let me repost the damages they have done with their Iraqi wars. I am not bringing in Afghan war here and complicating issues further!
Net results of Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, oil companies and their lobbyists directed 1991 and 2003 Iraqi wars are
WINNERS
1. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and other rich ME sharks became richer by manipulating oil prices too high.
2. Oil companies and their lobbyists also benefitted. Oil prices, which were hardly $30 a barrel before 1991, shot up to $140 a barrel.
3. Since 2003, future traders, rating agencies, Wall Street and oil companies and their lobbyists transferred five trillion dollars from oil importing countries to oil exporting nations.
4. Rich Sunni ME sharks (Saudi Arabia in particular) funded Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques and Islamic radicals and terrorists all over the world. These Sunni Islamic radicals and terrorists are rampaging all over the world. World’s 80 percent of problems are due to them.
LOSERS
1. General US and European nations’ public. There have been high unemployment, cut in welfare measures, housing market collapse and more miseries. Since 2001, US spent three trillion dollars on Iraq and Afghan wars. Did the Saudis and co foot the bill?
2. Poor soldiers killed and injured and their families. In Iraq and Afghan wars 6300 soldiers were killed and 40000 injured.
3. High budget deficits and heavier borrowing. Many nations (PIIGS) and people are on line to bankruptcy!
4. Iraq will plunge into bloody sectarian civil wars leading to the creation of Shiastan, Sunnistan and Kurdistan. Here the losses are of Iraqis.
Do not trust Russia pulling support from Syria.
There have been many Crisis in the past with promises where they, at the last minute pull out--
The US must deal with Russia as it were still the USSR--Not to be trusted.
They are probably selling arms, and weaponry to the Syrian Government. Anything to make a buck.. The Russian Government are No Humanitarians.
From what a US citizen sees from the outside, is not the inside of their tactics of being a Police State.
Merchant .. RUSSIA not denying selling arms to Syria , they are allies , Just like the US does not deny selling arms to Israel even when Israel uses that weapons to kill innocents civilians , So I do not know what you are to accomplish her , the fact is though that our Friends the Saudis , Qataris with their trained killers Alqaeda are in Syria killing and terrorising that country , Our Generals told that , Our Intel. told that , But for some reason Mrs. Clinton and McCain , Lieberman and bunch of our politicians just Ignore that , and keep blaming the Syrian Government , They blaming Assad for the killing of his Civilians and his Troops , They need to make their mind when they telling all these lies . Ask them how many Alqaeda fighters smuggled into Syria from Libya , Iraq , Kosovo and Tunisia and whole bunch of other countries that harbor these thugs , Off course with the help of our Friends the Saudis , Qataris and the Turks. Its a big conspiracy and we are just been watching videos of fabricated atrocities by the Syrian regime , Ask Aljazeera and AL Arabia and CNN they are the best of doing that ,
My Turn:
Another Sympathizer to Russia and Syria.
How many more? This is not about Israel.
Marchant--- Is that what you call when people tell the truth , Sympathizers , I guess you are are of these people that want to go and Attack Iran in the name of Israel , and you were one of these that still believe that Saddam had WMD , He just hid them in Syria , His enemy for years . and you probably believe that ASSAD killing his own supporters so the rebels will look bad , and he invited the UN so they can watch him killing his own people , and I bet you still got your baby teeth under your pillow waiting for the tooth fairy to bring you money . That's all I have to say to that .
Syria is a perceived enemy of Israel. Israel definately has its filthy hands in this, just as they had their filthy hands in Iraq. They want to have all their neigbors weakened, so Israel can move in and take more land and water, unoppposed.
My turn--you need to study a little recent history of the Middle East. Saddam was a rival of Hafez Assad's to be the main power broker on the Arab Peninsula, not an arch enemy, and Islamic rulers typically adhere to the philosophy of "The enemy of my enemy is my friend". Despite fighting a protracted war with Iran in the '80's that caused an estimated million casualties and saw the last use of chemical weapons in the 20th century, during Desert Storm Saddam tried to hide much of his air force by flying it to Iran--which promptly thanked him very much and kept them. Russia is simply playing power politics by working both sides of the fence. If Al-Assad falls, they've condemned the worst of Syrian atrocities. If he wins, they keep their "ally" in the Middle East. As for monitoring, the Arab League sent monitors who were denied access to the main areas of conflict and prevented from interviewing the rebel forces or sympathizers--it was a travesty, and they said so. Much of the Arab world has soundly condemned what is happening there. The UN has no presence there and has been denied entry. While Al Quaeda might have a presence, just as they did in Iraq and have in Libya, it's highly doubtful they will emerge as a major political presence if the rebels win. Our--and much of the rest of the world--is concerned about Iran only because they are a bellicose regime very near to having nukes in a strategically critical area of the world. We won't be able to isolate and ignore them like we can N. Korea. In a nation where Achmadenijad is considered a moderate, a nuclear arsenal is a potential trigger point for Armageddon. Your "truths" are poorly thought out and largely just an excuse to exercise your anti-Israeli sentiments.
As for RalphH, your anti-Semitic rant is beyond contempt. I suppose you're a Holocaust denier as well.
RalphH : At the end of the day this will be yet another tribal/religious sect war in the middle east.
In this case, Shia vs Sunni. Shia win??Iran is stronger, not a plus for Isreal. Sunni win? the ALqaeda wins.
I see no clear win for Israel in either case. They are hated by both sides of the struggle.
It's all about US/Nato/Israel/Saudi trained, financed insurgents and Al CIAda who embed themselves with civilian population in Syria and who are hard to extract. We are the terrorists.
We need Syria as a strategic base from which we will contain Russia/China/Iran from competition for national resources in the next century. And besides they have lots of oil that we will keep from Russia and China. Same plan for Iran after Syria.
Wiki or Google PNAC-- look it up and see who the signatories are.
and just like we thought in Iraq that they would pay for the invasion with Iraqi oil money and we would keep some for us? Not!!....Internationalists like Shell and Exxon Mobile are in there stealing it.
Really, we dont love Arabs and Persians so much, just what's under their feet.
We don't hear so much about the US drones who kill 100's men women children every week
Hello folks, as we blog the Russians are in Colorado Springs, CO at Fort Carson performing war games to arrest, capture, and kill "American terrorists" this is the first time ever that we have conducted war games with the Russians in America. Why does the largest most technologically advanced military in the world need support from the Russians to quell civil unrest?
As far as Syria is concerned, the U.S. and the Europeans are arming and funding the "rebels" which are factions of Al Queda and private mercenary armies. The U.S. has been looking to overthrow the Syrian government for quite some time now.
Like all other wars the banksters who fund both sides along with the military industrial complex are ultimately the beneficiaries of any "conflict".
General Wesley Clark: "America will take out 7 countries in 5 years"
According to Former NATO supreme allied commander, former presidential candidate and 4 star US General Wesley Clark that they had received a memo that America is going to take out 7 countries in the Middle East starting with Iraq, Libya, Syria Lebanon Sudan, Somalia, and finally Iran. It is amazing how these things that were planned years ago and even though it is taking longer than originally planned, are being achieved in front of our eyes.
If syria descends into civil war the US will have to look elsewhere to detain and torture so-called "enemies of the state."
Has anyone explained just exactly what the Syrians are fighting about..??. Has anyone considered this is nothing but a mediaploy for the military industrial complex to sell more weapons of destruction....???Russia stated that it would not get involved in a civil war..Very wise decision and Russia is a world power rising-- while the US is a world power declining....face facts...how in God's little green acre does a country which borrows forty cents for every dollar it spends maintain dominance in the world arena???? Just who listens to beggars??? When the lenders get fed up,interest rates will go back to normal, but then again! who are those lenders????
As far as i'm concerned, who gives a @!$%#? I mean, really? Do we really give a @!$%#? I know that I do not. Not about Syria and damned sure not about Russia. Russia is a joke now and in fact, has been for quite some time. And Syria? Come on man...we care why?
We have our own issues and we need to worry about ourselves for a change. I am totally against anymore US interference in Mid East Countries. And that includes Israel. Let them deal with their own bull@!$%# for a change. Period.....
I still believe they are cutting the population down and nothing any country does will change years of the same type of wars, government. When a holiday comes everything goes up inpprice. Our politician know we can not keep up with the population growth and I am soryy for the religions that can not accept the fact mother earth is already telling you we have to stop. Hunger, water and air. Can not grow our own garden unless we buy seeds from the store. What happen to the seeds, have you ever watch the movie Solent Green and what Hitler did. We have so many nationalities in America. they are all it is my right. It is nobodies right and no amount of money will feed out grand children and our great grand children.
People love America. Look at our gangs, child abuse, alcOhol advertise on TV. Why the ones with the pull drink, so we ignore the potential of abuse it brings to humAS. oUR YOUNG PEOPLE, SEX, DRUGS SUBSTANCE ABUSE. OUR tv IS FULL. Where is grandpa and grandma crying because they can not save the future from what is going to happen . We will be destroyed and start over from scratch.
The indians believed only use what you need and as a child I do not remember them having large families.
The Spanish. African Americans, whites, and look how many white families adopt other nationalities.
I watch the TV - send money so these children do not starve. send money for their families. send money to the elderly - their country can not take care of them.
God put us here to learn and help one another and I can not only see the tears in heaven but here on earth. We have to stop, what do we feed our animals, how do we grow our food. We are so busy playing. watching TV, movies, outdoor fun. Oh do not forget eating out or pizza. How many children know now to make home made bread, milk where does it come from, eggs and how is chocolate made. Willie Wonka knows.
So this man is actually wanting to start the cold war all over again?
whats with the fear and how do we stop it?
other then not trust, we need to make it clear we trust each other. otherwise we produce nothing but a bunch of fear feeding morons
If Russians and Chinese want to jump in ME, let them jump as much as they want. ME is the right place.
I agree with my turn most of the times. He/she like I is against doing dirty jobs for Sunni Saudi barbaric bigoted beasts, oil companies, some Jewish lobbies, oil price manipulators, bankers, Wall Street greedy and others by getting involved in Syria and Iran.
Iraqi wars were enough.
“enemy of enemy is friend.”
President Ronald Regan knew about it well when he armed Iranians against Saddam despite Iranians taking hostage of many Americans.
Would be pretty hard for Putin to speak against Assad seeing he is working the same
thing on his own people. That guy is a snake in snake's clothing!
What was accomplished at Nato summit? nothing. I bet Israel has a hand in this mess. But the jewish masters who own the news will never allow the truth to be known.
Ray:
So it is Israel's Jewish people who are at fault 'again".
Please think more. You have no "CLUE" as to anything but Jew Hating--say something Intelligent about the Subject. Russia and Israel detest one another.
The Article is about Russia pulling out support of Syria. Bigotry shows a low intelligence.
Geezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz--
It's not the people fault. Israeli government is not the same as israeli people.
And obviously some psychotic anti Semite, in his distorted and sick head, finds a way to blame the Jewish 0.24% of the ENTIRE world population for the misery and corruption of the Assad regime. Btw 1/3rd of this .024% are infant and children. Obviously the worst conspirators right?
How far can ignorance go? Did the Jews stole your job too? Bullied you when you were a kid? Or it just happened that you grew up in a broken home and is full of misguided hate rather than deal with your own shortcomings.
You live in a bubble of hate that only serves to delay changes to your life.
The NATO Summit in Chicago had to focus on Afghanistan (i.e. the real and primary issue of the organization at this moment in time).
Without UN approval via Security Council resolution, the civilian populations and their respective governments of the NATO bloc will not intervene militarily in Syria or anywhere else for that matter. International law must be respected, even when such law and the morality of its premise has been 'hijacked' by the Russians and the Chinese. This is the world we live in.
While Israel has much to be concerned about in Syria, it really does not matter whether the Allawites led be Assad are able to hang on or whether or not the Sunni majority population is able to win this revolution. In either scenario, the government which ultimately rules in Damascus will be hostile to the interests of the nation of Israel.
Caution is required now. I know that many want to intervene and I hate to see kids slaughtered, but I really don't want to lose more US soldiers and pilots to a cause that we don't understand and there are no long term or even short-term gains for US policy in the region.
Truthfully, I'm shocked that Romney has advocated arming the opposition. Who are the opposition? Some are undoubtedly fighters for a just cause, but not all of them. How much US taxpayer money is Romney willing to spend on intervention? It would certainly cost between 2B - 6B USD for the fuel, munitions, and other support for a limited intervention. Is Romney willing to intervene without any allies? What are the goals of his interventionist policy? To replace the Assad regime (bad) with another revolutionary regime (bad) that would still be hostile to US and Israeli interests???
To be clear, I'm not a Romney supporter. But still giving voice to my thoughts, I don't comprehend how his advisors can view this decision to arm insurgents with unknown ties to terrorists organizations or other extremist elements as beneficial to his political cause. Seriously, any republicans that care about their party's long-term interests should attempt to put a stop to this misled course of action before it causes political harm to the candidate. For all Romney and his advisors know, the Russians may have called it correctly that both sides are equally guilty for the war crimes being committed daily. My advice to the GOP candidate is to back off from discussing the matter in Syria and just let events unfold.
Marchant .. Poor old Israel everybody blame them for . Killing innocents civilians , Attacking Iraq Nuke facilities , Attacking Syria's Nuke facilities ,( SO THE SAID ) , Attacking civilians in Lebanon and bombing them with Illegal weapons , Killing Iranians scientists , Threatening Iran every time the US and the Europeans get close to a deal with Iran , Here comes Israel with another plan to Attack Iran , And here goes the Gas precises up again in the US. Israel take a big chunk of our money and then start trouble for us and don't forget the ( Liberty ship that was attacked by Israel back in the 70's and how many US sailors died that day ) , Sorry , Is any body said Israel , Shame on you , well they are our spoiled brats , the one that does not do no wrong according to our Democrats and Republicans , that's the only thing they ever agree on , Protect Israel and send them all the money and weapons they ever need , Oh what ? Do not worry the American people will live , they do not need these measly billions we sen over seas . these politicians should go to Israel and live .
Ray:
Essentially what you are saying is that you hate the JEWS--
Lame excuse; The Israeli Government and not the Israeli people?. Both are tied in together.
The pic is 9 years old, of phoney bodies the USA tried to use for the war againest Iraq. Just another phoney U.S. scam.
My turn--the more you comment, the more fragmented and ignorant you seem. You should stop before you remove an doubt about your limited I.Q. Seriously. As for the embicilic rantings of ray and the other anti-Semites, the Israelis have nothing to do with the conflict in Syria--it's a civil war between the Assad gov't and the disenfranchised Sunni majority. No matter who wins, Israel's problems will remain the same. Get over your anti-Semiticism and learn something before you comment.
Anti-semite my ass.
Agdoc:
Well said.
Why does Israel come into every Newsvine Article from commenter's, (negative remarks) that has nothing to do with any Subject; Israel is about the size of the State of Rhode Island, USA.
Size doesn't matter. Size of nuclear arsenal only matters.
RAY:
Question to you is it the proper to wear you white sheet that tight around you head? I think not it has done cut off all the blood going to your brain unless your just a dyed in the wool bigot.
Just because I don't let a jewish guy butt@!$%# me, doesn't mean I'm anti semite
Ray:
Then don't make "off" remarks about the Jews, and their Government.
It shows Bigotry no mater how one slices it.
I'm being "kind" to you, re: your blatant remarks. Nothing to say about Russia/Syria?
You are the one that said the government is the same as the people.
And so it is. From whence does the gov't spring? It's elected by the people, not bred in an isolated bunker. Every gov't reflects the temporary will of the population it serves, and every gov't changes over time as it reflects the changing will of its electorate. What about this confuses you?
People making assumptions based on thier : EGO, PRIDE, SELF RIGHTEOSNESS, and JUDGEMENT
get the hell offa ur high horse
all you guys have been doing is pointing fingers with nothing to back it up, you go from assuming to making it seem like the truth
whats next? u gonna blame obama on this? OH WAIT SOMONE ALREADY DID THAT. ....
No wars and nowhere near any ME nation for a decade.
If any rulers in the world qualify to be thrown out, they are the most despotic, autocratic and bigoted Sunni Saudi (a ruler with 5000 princes and princesses and more captive slave girls and women to enjoy), Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League Sunni rulers.
They invented Iraqi wars, high oil price manipulations and made themselves rich.
They gave back their Sunni extremist versions of hate preaching and killers training centers, mosques all over the world and worst economic mess in the US, Europe and many nations. They are backers of the Islamic killers, al-Qaeda and other label terrorist organizations.
These barbarians and beasts are responsible for 80 percent of world problems.
Now Saudis, oil companies and their lobbyists again are outsourcing their dirty jobs in Syria and Iran to the US, Britain and European nations.
So there are sanctions on Iranian oil!
Just watch oil prices jumping to $200 and Saudis, oil companies, lobbyists and the politicians’ political contributions making windfalls.
There will be more economic turmoils.
Why not Saudi Arabia and Arabia League do their own jobs in Syria and Iran?
They sent their forces to Bahrain to crush similar or worse Shiites rebellions!
It's campaign season. Do whatever you want, we have elections to tend to.
How convenient for Russia to blame both sides.
Why not simply say: "It's the WAR stupid!"
MITT ROMNEY.
Just wondered if his name would be allowed.
Times are changing, IMO.
people blaming obama for not having an opinion on this...
mitt romney isnt even mentioned...
sigh..
and here we have a whole bunch of people only caring about election season
According to the Guardian (UK), Obama is pushing for Russia to agree to a plan for al Assad to step down in return for immunity from prosecution for the murder of 10,000 of his people and wounding of tens of thousands more.
Apparently the Syria thing is interfering with Obama's re-election and needs to have it fade from the news. It should be interesting to see what Putin does, since it is in his best interest to have Obama re-elected over (as much as I dislike him) Romney.
Russia's had its head up its butt for the last 100 years.
You must be 100 yrs old+ WOW!
either that or you are speaking out of nationalism and patriotism...
tsk tsk, so much pride
Russia and China is just a guilty as Syria. Saudi Arabia and its allies could stop the flow of oil to China and this killing would stop. Russia and China are killers just like Syria and continue to promote the killing. Iran is next on the list of killer nations that is about to explode, thanks to Russia that gave them the nukes. The US has done all it can and should do to stop the killing. We should be producing our on energy and giving our allies the weapons to protect themselves. Let the Middle East burn.
Bold assumption...
where did you get china from? what new source did you follow? like...really?
did somone give u a bottle of fear? cuz ur assumption is VERY VERY BOLD
while we're at it lets blame brazil, im sure they buy oil too, and OH YES, the US too!! :D
Hey showmerancher .. Who is going to give NATO immunity for killing tens of thousands of civilians in Libya and stealing that country wealth and giving Alqaeda the hand to rule that country . Why our Media does not report any more from Libya , So you can really see who's over there , and the killings that is going on every day . We replaced a monster that we had tamed , with the Alqaeda and their Masters the Saudis and Qataris , I guess Saudis felt like Alqaeda needs another breeding ground and a rich one , So NATO DID THE JOB FOR THEM AND THEY GAVE THE EUROPEANS ALL THE OIL CONTRACTS THAT THEY TOOK AWAY FROM RUSSIA ANS CHINA, That's why the Russians and Chinese are mad buddy .
Of course, Russia will say both sides are to blame.
The Syrian government for shooting the bullets,
and the protestors for standing in front of the bullets!
Seems balanced to me [soooo not]!!
if russia is blaming anyone, then russia is probably to blame...
Russia and US controlled by the same people conspiring to topple Syria for its money and resources. One world govenment with one world monetary system enslaving everyone. Population reduction from 6 billion down to 500 million.
sounds like a great movie...
you must like zombie apocalypse :)
i was pretteh sure we are at 8billion, but idk where u got the 500 million from but thats ok.
please change the script soon~
It still looks like people will have to wait for Russia to stop helping Syria’s government and pull there support for them also. That’s a lot of people and children killed and some on purpose. Did anyone find any weapons or any thing, did they get any info from these dead people? Looks like this country is next to have a change in government.
I thought "even handed" was a phrase the Russians reserved only when someone was killing Jews. Perhaps the old ways are giving way to a more universal model of bigotry.
Russia and US controlled by the same people, conspiring to topple Syria for it's money and resources.
Objective: One world government, one world monetary system.
russia is playing it smart,theyr'e better politicians than we give them credit for,they don't jump right away into conclusions that in the long run causes them to harm themselves, like we do.
What do you expect when a dumb house wife is in charge of foreign policy.
ouchi, according to The Daily Beast, "There is a foreign policy god, and it is She who deserves
thanks." And FYI Hilliary Clinton is the smartest woman to come down the Pike
What really sucks is that thousands are dying for simply being pawns in political games. There will be nothing positive achieved while politicians and diplomats are involved with the intent of furthering their legacy (Annan), presidential aspirations (Obama), Middle East control (Putin and China).
And the Assads and his henchmen have sucked hundreds of billions of $$$ out of Syria, enjoying a lavish lifestyle even while killing those that he has robbed. Talk about bitter irony.
It's not evil vs virtue, but Syrian vs Syrian.
Leave them alone until it bursts into dust.
Whoever wins Syria will be Syria, just like Iran.
Better than how we handle events with Israel ...
hay just send obama over there and let him teach them how to kill there fellow countrymen with a law you know o0bamadeath care and there wont be any human rights to worry about.
Hey, Miers;
Typical TEApublican. Blame Obama, because EVERTHING is his fault! That's One Foolish Idea!
Your unreasonable HATE and irrational FEAR are blinding you to the truth.
Typical Russian move see which way the wind blows and then make your statement. The Syrians are just like the rest of the middle eastern Muslim countries, they just don't feel happy unless they are killing each other. When it is all over and the new regime takes over the US will have another new/old enemy Let them go at it and keep our troops out of it. If they want to be free then they will have to bleed their own blood. As usual the UN is doing a really bang up job.
Beijing and Moscow both rule by murder, but are forced to take steps to try to disguise that fact from the international community. So both eventually will condemn Assad. However, neither will take steps to do anything about it, and when push comes to shove will take every step to prop up their pal Assad against any effort to dislodge him.
Which brings us back to square one.
Don't get involved with it; jawbone it to death, but don't send any troops. We'll have to fight Chinese and Russians with the added incentive of knowing the locals hate us also.
The argument over political rise or financial gain seems to always overshadow murder. Pointing a finger at what party is to blame does nothing to stop the killing as all involved can be seen as an instigator. Greed, vanity and a lust for control are the real culprits if you want to point a finger. There is the true enemy of humanity.
The new middleweight champion of the world, aptly named Ali, said it better than I ever could: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWh2q-AkTww