Kerry not losing sleep after Putin calls him a liar: U.S.
Source: Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department dismissed as "preposterous" Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement that Secretary of State John Kerry lied to Congress about al Qaeda's role in Syria.
"Secretary Kerry is, as you all know, a decorated combat veteran," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, referring to Kerry's service during the Vietnam War. "He's had ... more than words aimed at him.
"So he's not losing sleep after such a preposterous comment that was based on an inaccurate quote and was completely mischaracterized," she added.
On Wednesday, Putin accused Kerry of lying about the militant group al Qaeda's role in the Syrian conflict.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-not-losing-sleep-putin-calls-him-liar-190448510.html
underpants
(182,803 posts)just saying
onehandle
(51,122 posts)wisteria
(19,581 posts)Maybe you are living in the wrong country.
Turborama
(22,109 posts)And this one: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023607279
No, they're not.
YvonneCa
(10,117 posts)...
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)former9thward
(32,008 posts)Anyone who says al Qaeda is not the main military force among the rebels is lying.
karynnj
(59,503 posts)He was asked if they were becoming an increasing part of the opposition. At a different part, he cited the SD estimate on the % and I think the number given was somewhere near 20% extremist. (My memory on the number may be in error - I do know he gave a % that was the estimate.) 20% is significant.
wisteria
(19,581 posts)former9thward
(32,008 posts)That would be Kerry. And he "vetted" that intelligence or so he said. I get my facts from a variety of news reports from news media all over the world. It is not that hard. For anybody to say al Queda is not in Syria in a big way means reporters and analysts all over the world are in a conspiracy to create that impression. If conspiracy theories get you thru the day go for it. Any strike on Syria will aid al Queda who we are supposed to be fighting.
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)fujiyama
(15,185 posts)"John Kerry is a decorated combat veteran"?
Well, no shit. That's why I'd expect more out of him. I expect someone knowing the horrors of war not being such a booster for another potentially disastrous one. And I'd expect him to actually take the Russian president's concern less lightly, whether we like him or not.
wisteria
(19,581 posts)to his argument to strike Syria. He would not undertake this action lightly. Personally, I think sometimes it is important to demonstrate strength in order to gain peace.
fujiyama
(15,185 posts)Spare me the euphemisms. You mean, you gotta kill the civilians in order to save them. We heard it before just over ten years ago. And I'm sorry I'm having a tough time taking Kerry seriously when he isn't taking Russia's concerns of Al Qaeda coming into Syria seriously. This is a major concern for them and it should be for us as well.
But apparently, we can blithely just dismiss the Russians because we're just a bitch for the Saudis.
arewenotdemo
(2,364 posts)The other day he told the Congress this:
With respect to Arab countries offering to bear costs and to assess, the answer is profoundly yes, Kerry said. They have. That offer is on the table.
Asked by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) about how much those countries would contribute, Kerry said they have offered to pay for all of a full invasion.
In fact, some of them have said that if the United States is prepared to go do the whole thing the way weve done it previously in other places, theyll carry that cost, Kerry said. Thats how dedicated they are at this.
If those words don't curdle your blood....
Psephos
(8,032 posts)wisteria
(19,581 posts)and a possible strike, makes me wonder what he has going on in Syria and how it benefits him.
BlueMTexpat
(15,369 posts)covers a lot of possibilities. http://themonkeycage.org/2013/09/05/why-is-syria-so-important-to-russia-and-putin/
Turborama
(22,109 posts)The Russia-Syria axis is rooted in a strong political and economic relationship that has been cultivated since the late 1950s. The bond has a deep cultural element: many Syrians go to Russia to study, while Russians go to Syria as holidaymakers, advisors or investors. Over the years, Russia has also played an essential role in restructuring the Syrian economy, and wrote off roughly 70 percent of Syria's $13.4 billion debt in 2005.
While reliable numbers are hard to come by, The Moscow Times estimated Russian investments in Syria at $19.4 billion in 2009, covering infrastructure, energy and tourism. But with outstanding projects ranging from a nuclear power plant to oil and gas exploration, the number today may be considerably higher.
Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/101004539
polly7
(20,582 posts)From Wikipedia, references for more details at the link:
Military cooperation
The Syrian port city of Tartus hosts a Soviet-era naval supply and maintenance base, under a 1971 agreement with Syria. The base was established during the Cold War to support the Soviet Navy's fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Since Russia forgave Syria of three-fourths, or $9.8 billion, of its $13.4 billion Soviet-era debt and became its main arms supplier, Russia and Syria have conducted talks about allowing Russia to develop and enlarge its naval base, so that Russia can strengthen its naval presence in the Mediterranean.[4] Amid Russia's deteriorating relations with the West, because of the 2008 South Ossetia War and plans to deploy a US missile defense shield in Poland, President Assad agreed to the ports conversion into a permanent Middle East base for Russias nuclear-armed warships.[5] Since 2009, Russia has been renovating the Tartus naval base and dredging the port to allow access for its larger naval vessels.[6]
Syria for the past few years has reached out to Russia to obtain modern weapons that included many modern anti-tank and anti-air missile systems that will further improve its combat capabilities. In 2008, Syria agreed to purchase MiG-29SMT fighters, Pantsir S1E air-defense systems, Iskander tactical missile systems, Yak-130 aircraft, and two Amur-1650 submarines from Russia. Russia's foreign minister said his country's sale of weapons to Syria would not upset the balance of power in the Middle East. The sales he stated are "in line with the international law" and "in the interests of strengthening stability and maintaining security" in regions close to Russian borders, Sergei Lavrov told reporters during a visit to the United Nations in New York.[7] As of 2011, Syria's arms contracts with Russia were worth at least $4 billion.[8][9] Dmitri Trenin reports in the New York Times that from 2000 to 2010 Russia sold around $1.5 billion worth of arms to Syria, making Damascus Moscows seventh-largest client.[10]
Economic relations
Russia has significant trade relations with Syria. Its exports to Syria were worth $1.1 billion in 2010 and its investments in the country were valued at $19.4 billion in 2009 according to The Moscow Times.[11][12] Besides lucrative arms contracts worth at least $4 billion, Russian firms have a substantial presence in Syria's infrastructure, energy and tourism industries.[8] Stroitransgaz, a natural gas facility construction company, has the largest Russian operation in Syria. In 2010, it was involved in projects worth $1.1 billion and had a staff of 80 Russians working in Syria. Stroitransgaz is building a natural gas processing plant 200 kilometers east of Homs in the Al-Raqqa region and is involved in technical support for the construction of the Arab Gas Pipeline. Tatneft is the most significant Russian energy firm in Syria. The company began in 2010 through a joint venture with the Syrian national oil company to pump Syrian oil and it planned to spend $12 million on exploratory wells near the Iraqi border.[11] Other firms with large business interests in Syria include steel pipe manufacturer TMK, gas producer ITERA, and national carrier Aeroflot.[8]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Syria_relations
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)Always has been, and always will be. I would not believe one word out of his mouth.
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)madrchsod
(58,162 posts)all the players in the middle east are fighting or have a vested interest in the "winner" in the war for who controls the pipelines.
tavernier
(12,388 posts)Otherwise she would have cleaned Putin's clock. I wouldn't mess with that little lady!