Russia lawmakers cancel trip to US for Syria talks after Congressional leaders refuse to see them

[Catherina]

Russia lawmakers cancel trip to US for #Syria talks after Congressional leaders refused to see them



A Free Syrian Army fighter aims a weapon as he takes a defensive position in Deir al-Zor September 5, 2013. Picture taken September 5, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Khalil Ashawi

WASHINGTON | Fri Sep 6, 2013 2:15pm EDT

(Reuters) - Russian lawmakers have canceled plans to travel to the United States to discuss the crisis in Syria with their U.S. counterparts after congressional leaders refused to see them, the Russian ambassador to Washington said on Friday.

The Obama administration has been intensely lobbying Congress to authorize a U.S. military strike against Syria in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons by Syria's government in that country's civil war.

Presumably the Russian lawmakers would have taken the opposite view and lobbied their U.S. counterparts against supporting U.S. military action in Syria, which Moscow opposes.

But the Russians, who first proposed the trip to Washington a few days ago, decided against it after the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate declined to get involved, Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak said.

...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/06/us-syria-crisis-usa-russia-idUSBRE9850XN20130906

Wave those fucking self-righteous flags... and then in 2 years when all hell has broken loose, expect pity that "you was fooled". There's more detail in the original RT article but I wouldn't want that to get in the way of the propaganda and rush to war. Funny that, it's always the same people too. .. And the same flags.

[Thinkingabout]

1. The Rusdian lawmakers should meet with Putin and get him to get Syria under control.

They could attempt to meet the with Assad to stop the war in Syria.

[bluestate10]

4. I agree. The Russian "lawmakers" are nothing but stooges for Putin. nt

[AverageJoe90]

20. And Putin is nothing more than a useful idiot for The Powers That Be. So is Assad, for that matter..

[DevonRex]

71. And they're BIGOTS just like Putin is. Anti-LGBT law anybody?

Now Catherina is mad because we don't want their bigoted lying asses HERE????? Fuck that.

[TheMadMonk]

88. And just EXACTLY HOW LONG are such laws surviving in the US right now?

DADT missed enlistment age by two months.

Proposition 8 failed to make pre-school.


It's going to be a rough decade or so for Sasha and Sasha, but now they have a concrete point of attack, and it's a whole lot easier to fight an unjust law, than an unjust opinion.

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Their wanting to come to the US was nothing more than political theatre.

There already is a robust debate taking place. It doesn't need to be complicated by Russian politicians wanting face time on television.

[JI7]

3. i would have met with them and turned the discussion to gay rights in their country

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Yes...if US lawmakers wanted to go to Russia to discuss those horrendous anti-gay laws...

surely they would be welcomed with open arms.

[polly7]

6. Awww ...... why so shy with that proof? nt.

[quinnox]

7. I think this was just a propaganda ploy

Come on, if you are a Russian politician contingent you don't seriously ask to come over to the USA and lecture them on what they should do in foreign policy. This was not a serious thing, IMHO.

[polly7]

8. Or maybe you come over with the hope of dialogue that may prevent another atrocity. nt.

[quinnox]

11. Just saying, it would look very odd to see Russian politicians instructing US ones on what they feel

is best to do here in the good old USA. I'm far from a super-patriotic wrap-myself-in-the-flag nutcase, but the optics of that are unacceptable.

[polly7]

15. Possibly, they were hoping to better understand what's prompting something

that's deadly serious for everyone in the region, including themselves. They have huge economic ties with Syria and have been strong political allies for decades. This doesn't directly affect anyone in the U.S. ... it does, them. What's the harm in trying to prevent something that shows signs of being really bad and working with one another to at least figure out how to minimize the damage?

I don't get it, myself.

[sabrina 1]

9. How embarrassing. We are acting like children on the world stage. The Russians and Chinese were

right about Iraq. I remember the 'left' applauding them at that time, hoping they would prevail in stopping Bush from getting his war going.

The US is isolating itself from the World unable to defend its constant state of war.

[polly7]

17. Yes, I remember a whole lot of people had their hopes pinned on Russia back then to stop it.

How things change.

[sabrina 1]

18. Some of us haven't changed. Principles are principles and as far as I can tell, nothing has happened

to change what we were so right about before the tragic and horrible invasion of Iraq. I hope those opposed to the continuation of these PNAC policies prevail this time.

[polly7]

35. That's good news. I hope there are plenty like you out there. nt.

[sabrina 1]

40. Well, according to the polls on this latest 'war' in the ME, we are definitely in the majority, by

an overwhelming majority. By some accounts, from our Reps in Congress almost 99 - 1 of their contacts from constituents oppose this latest 'foreign adventure' for profit.

[DevonRex]

72. Those HOMOPHOBIC RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS can stay the fuck HOME.

Fuck them.

[sabrina 1]

81. Mmm ...

I haven't seen much from you on our close alliance with those women hating, homophobic Saudis so I'm a bit skeptical about your sudden concerns.

How about all those Conservative Republicans now in this administration's cabinet?

This 'trick' which is now so transparent, of USING serious issues regarding Women and Gays and other minorities in an effort to 'get' the Left is despicable. It got old way back when Rush Limbaugh was doing it to try to play 'gotcha' with Liberals. Russia's Gay Rights activists have asked that they not be used in this way as it is harming their movement and placing them in danger. IF you care one bit about their rights, then do as they asked, stop using them for political purposes. As a woman I am sick and tired of the use of Women for political purposes also. It has the exact opposite effect than intended and only angers people who see right through the phoniness involved.

The issue is Syria and no matter how hard the small and ever shrinking minority who support these Colonial wars try, the focus will remain where it belongs, on ending these dangerous wars for profit.

[KoKo]

10. I thought we Dems Elected Obama to reach out across the World for Peace

and Reconciliation after the terrible Bush Years.

This doesn't sound good. What if a USA Delegation went to Russia to speak out about GLBT Rights and our Reps Refused to See Them?

What if a same GLBT Delegation went to CHINA and were Refused a dialogue with their Premier?

What Goes Around ...Comes Around.

I think this was a miscalculation for Obama Globally.

[KharmaTrain]

14. If These Russians Were Serious About Peace...

...they'd be putting the same pressures on Putin about getting out of that mess as our congresscritters are now doing. While we debate about an American involvement in this mess, Russia and Putin have blood all over their hands. It's their weaponry that Assad uses to drop napalm and chemical weapons on his people. It's Putin that helps prop Assad up and has his share of responsibility in the over 100,00 deaths and over 2,000,000 refugess so far. And it's Putin who can get Assad to attend a peace conference to negotiate an end to this bloodletting...

[sabrina 1]

21. Some Americans are still lost in the old Cold War era, back in the 'fifties. They can't seem to get

out of that mindset.

[KoKo]

24. I know...it's amazing to see the "closed minds" out there all over the internet..

Like they are stuck in Cold War Era with James Bond Movies and before.

[sabrina 1]

29. But they are like dinosaurs now, a shrinking minority. The overwhelming majority is rejecting them

but you have to give them credit, they just can't accept how out of touch they are in these times.

[DevonRex]

74. WTF?? THOSE FUCKING BIGOTS ARE JAILING LGBTs.

Don't you go spewing that crap. The RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS are perpetrating violence against LGBTs.

Yeah, what goes around comes around, Look.

[ProSense]

12. "Wave those fucking self-righteous flags...There's more detail in the original RT article "

Accept Russian propaganda you Americans, you!!!

Putin rocks!

[Logical]

19. LOL, still mad about snowden I assume? n-t

[sabrina 1]

22. Putin doesn't rock. But the Russians were right about Bush's Iraq fiasco and we were so hoping back

then that they and the others, at the time, France and Germany, still democracies at the time, and China would prevail to stop that now obvious disaster from happening.

I assume you opposed that disaster back then??

[ProSense]

25. Bush isn't in office. A lot of people were right about Bush. That doesn't make Putin reliable.

The attempts to prop up Putin are silly. The notion that Russian politicians should be injected into a U.S. Congressional debate is absurd.

[sabrina 1]

27. Your attempts to change the subject are silly. Bombing for peace is still a stupid idea and bound to

have the same dire consequences it had back then. The Russians, Chinese and everyone else who tried to stop the 'rush to war' were RIGHT. Are you saying they were not?

[ProSense]

30. The topic of the OP is Russian lawmakers wanting to inject themselves into a Congressional debate.

You are the one trying to "change the subject."

[sabrina 1]

32. Apparently they are NOT trying to inject themselves into anything. Did you read the OP at all?

They are wisely leaving us to our own devices. Very smart of them.

It seems they have the majority on their side. THAT ought to tell us something.

[ProSense]

33. "They are wisely leaving us to our own devices. Very smart of them."

Right, they should focus on their hateful LGBT laws and Russia's role in aiding Assad in his massacre.

[polly7]

34. You reeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllly want these bombs

to drop, and quick, too!!!!

I hope you're prepared for the inevitable loss of completely innocent lives ...... hopefully it won't be anywhere near Iraq or even Libya, but imo even one more lost life that wouldn't have occurred but for this, is a sick, preventable tragedy.

Bombs Awaaaaayyyyy!

[ProSense]

36. What the hell are you talking about?

I said Russian politicians should focus on their hateful LGBT laws and Russia's role in aiding Assad massacre people.

Now, is there anything you object to in that statement?

[sabrina 1]

38. Not working. Really, you should tune in to RT where they are open to discussion on Russia's

laws regarding LGBT issues. It is refreshing to see what we never saw on our Corporate media regarding our own very recent anti-gay laws. It is interesting to hear from Russia's Pro Gay Rights activists on the subject also. Free, as they point out frequently, to express their views on RT.

Maybe you should, assuming you are not just using the LGBT community and actually do care about them, focus on our allies regarding Gay rights, such as Saudi Arabia and Uganda where they have considered the DP for gays, but we continue to finance them. Or Uzbekistan, where we are still financing their Dictator accused of genocide of his own people for merely protesting peacefully.

Please stop using minorities, women, gays and other minorities for political purposes. It is reprehensible and the Russia's Gay Rights activists have asked that this stop as it is HARMING their movement and putting them in danger.

Not so long ago Obama was of the opinion that Gays should not have the right to marry. Or that they should have the right to serve in the military. I recall you defending him at that time. I thought that was inexcusable frankly.

[ProSense]

42. "Really, you should tune in to RT where they are open to discussion"

Yeah, Russia is a bastion for freedom of the press.

[sabrina 1]

44. So are we! Lol!

I'll say this, from what we here are exposed to, they definitely give voice to far more differing opinions than our enslaved Corporate Media, and with that 'liberal bias' we always wanted to see and now can. I am so grateful not to have watch the Corporate propaganda anymore, with THREE new news channels now available on our lineup. Actual NEWS from all over the world finally.

[ProSense]

45. Maybe we could convert every U.S. news organization to emulate RT.

Wouldn't that be kewl?

[sabrina 1]

47. Sure would be. At least we'd get to hear some Liberal voices for a change.

[ProSense]

50. So you would be cool with every U.S. news organization becoming a mouthpiece for the government? n/t

[sabrina 1]

70. I'm definately not cool with it. That is how it is now though and the reason why I never watch

any of our Corporate Controlled 'message machine' anymore.

I am not sure that the Corporate Media is a mouth piece for the Government, or the Government is a mouth piece for the Corporate media in the US. Either way, we do not get 'news' we get 'messages' as Hillary quite frankly admitted to her credit when she bemoaned the popularity of news media like RT and Al Jazeera who she admitted, were good because they covered real news.

CNN is 'struggling for viewers' while RT is now in over 50 million US homes. It is far from being controlled by anyone which is why it is so good as Hillary pointed out.

CNN should try doing what RT does, provide ACTUAL news, real discussion programs where their phony 'hosts' don't keep interrupting and actually know something about the topic rather than just reading from a memo.

I love it that RT has so many brilliant, YOUNG women, most are Americans but several are from various other countries where they bring the news from around the world. It's wonderful to see women hired for their BRAINS rather than their just their bodies.

[ProSense]

77. RT still spreads Russian propaganda. So no matter

"I love it that RT has so many brilliant, YOUNG women, most are Americans but several are from various other countries where they bring the news from around the world. It's wonderful to see women hired for their BRAINS rather than their just their bodies."

...how much flattery you throw at the operation, it still spreads conspiracy theories and pro-Russian proopaganda.

[sabrina 1]

82. RT provides real news from all over the world which is why it now has a larger viewing audience

especially among Democrats than any of our Corporate Controlled Propaganda media here in the US.

The flattery was sincere for the women who are actual journalists rather than 'stenographers' as Colbert correctly described them, on our Corporate Controlled media. I haven't seen them on our Corporate Media, probably because they are REAL journalists. Maybe CNN wouldn't be struggling for viewers if they hired quality American journalists as RT does.

CCTV is also a good source of World News. Al Jazeera International has always been excellent. I will have to check out the American version before deciding whether it is catering to the US in order to remain available on US tv.

There are so many good news sources available now than there were back in 2003. Unfortunately because if we had actual news reporting back then, Iraq might never have happened.

[tazkcmo]

59. That would be an upgrade for Fox. n/t

[ProSense]

60. I said news organizations. n/t

[tazkcmo]

65. ok then

CN-er, no. MSN...no. Hmmmm. New York Ti...dang. Well crap. What news organizations? Do we have any? The Enquirer? Thrifty Nickel?

[tazkcmo]

57. As opposed

to propaganda from the Pro's?

[Enrique]

13. it would have cut into their iphone poker time n/t

[another_liberal]

16. No time for talk, talk, talk. We have to go, go, go!

Screw a bunch diplomacy with Russia! No need for face-to-face talks as a way to lessen tensions with that gang of Commies.

(Anyway AIPAC didn't want us to.)

[bigtree]

23. Samantha Power on Syria: 'We Have Exhausted' Diplomatic-Only Options

[KoKo]

26. She always looks kind of "Put Out" about everything. It makes me wonder

why she feels that being "In Your Face" is a winning policy for the hearts and minds of savvy Americans.

[bigtree]

31. she's defensive because she wanted to keep posing as a progressive

. . . much like the rest of the supposed liberals who support this autocratic bid for U.S. violence directed at the Syrian government and military.

It's amazing how she could be so arrogant about turning her back on the very institution she's appealing to.

[KoKo]

49. Sad...but, maybe it's her husband Cass's influence. Still we are what we are...

and power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolute. (I forget who said that pithy comment).

But, Obama seems to be surrounded by people like that. They live a a Bubble of Privilege..and can't seem to see outside of it.

The rest of us are outside her just looking in...but, we are gaining our VOICE and hopefully that VOICE will grow now that we realize what we are up against. Who would have thought...but, then it goes back to the old Bushie/Condi/Rummy thing about "9/11" where they kept saying about everything.."WHO COULD HAVE KNOWN?"

What a way to get out of Culpability for actions taken that were so devastating and cost so many lives. And, will continue to cause devastation as long as they have "The Power."

[sabrina 1]

28. She is such a war monger. Does anyone listen to her anymore?

[bigtree]

43. she's hoping to legitimize her leftist rhetoric with a little hawkishness

. . . posturing as the humanitarian.

[KoKo]

51. Didn't she win a Peace Prize for her book on Genocide?

She won something. I didn't read her book but I remember the 2008 Election where younger DU'ers just loved her and were thrilled that she would be part of either Hillary or Obama's administration if either won. She seemed to be a beacon of hope to them for Human Rights. Then she called Hillary a "Witch" or something and got kicked off Obama campaign. But, now she's back.

[bigtree]

83. excellent read

. . . compromised by her acceptance and promotion of 'limited war' in at least three instances now, I believe.

[kenny blankenship]

37. More than ever I suspect this whole thing has nothing to do with Syria at all

Some pissy people want to publicly smack Russia around for some reason. Some mysterious reason... can't quite put my finger on it...


And apparently they're quite willing to kill thousands over it.

[brooklynite]

53. So Syria ISN'T killing civiluans...

...and we were ginning up evidence against Snowden before he fled to Hong Kong?

Flawless logic

[kenny blankenship]

54. Yeah, that's EXACTLY what I said

Keep flailing like you're flailing, makes my life easier.

[brooklynite]

55. Please help me...

Syria used chemical weapons, but this has nothing to do with Syria. It has something to do with Edward Snowden, but the US was criticizing Syria long before he stole anything from the NSA. So any help would be appreciate.

[kenny blankenship]

56. I would help you if I thought for a minute there was any helping you.

Some folks there's just no help for.

[davidpdx]

39. Considering that the Russian lawmakers would have been in the US for diplomatic reasons

Would it not have been improper for them to meet with Congress instead of the President of the United States? Even though President Obama is consulting Congress, isn't it he that would be the proper person since he is the head of government?

It sounds to me like the Russian legislators and the people who support the idea of them meeting with Congress want to set a new precedent by ignoring the elected head of state.

[pnwmom]

41. Yes. For once Congress decided not to overtly insult Obama, even after

the Russian lawmakers offered them the opportunity.

[davidpdx]

46. Which is what I find hilarious when someone posts an article saying that the Russian lawmakers

planned to come here and then in the same thread says they are not. The truth is they did try to inject themselves into the conversation and the thread was posted with the story to slam the US Congress for not meeting with the Russian lawmakers.

While I'm no fan of Congress, they did the right thing by not letting another legislative body interfere with their work. It should be the American people that lobby Congress to stop the war as they work for us.

[Savannahmann]

52. Churchill addressed Congress in December 1941.

Other foreign leaders have met with congress. John Kerry met with Assad several times before becomming Secretary of State. We just didn't want to hear the Russians because they might not tell us that we are number one.

[ProSense]

58. That

"Churchill addressed Congress in December 1941.
Other foreign leaders have met with congress. John Kerry met with Assad several times before becomming Secretary of State. We just didn't want to hear the Russians because they might not tell us that we are number one."

...supports the poster's point:

"Would it not have been improper for them to meet with Congress instead of the President of the United States? Even though President Obama is consulting Congress, isn't it he that would be the proper person since he is the head of government?"

Head of states are invited to appear before legislative bodies. That happens.

Legislatures meet with heads of of state. They do not inject themselves into legislative debates. That's absurd.

[Savannahmann]

84. Baloney

Every year or two roughly one in five members of congress head to Isreal. Do you think they don't meet and discuss issues with members of the Israeli Legislature?

http://www.laprogressive.com/congress-israel/

That is like saying that the worst thing any representative can have is any first hand knowledge on an issue. They should seek out as many different opinions possible to have the foundation to make an informed decision.

Congress is not merely a rubber stamp for any executive, and I agree it would be improper to conduct negotiations, but a meeting to hear what the Russians had to say would almost certainly have gone a long way to helping our relations with them. Even if we didn't agree or did not take the action suggested, a meeting would have cost us nothing and potentially gained much.

[ProSense]

86. They do not interfere in legilative debate. The notion is absurd. n/t

[Savannahmann]

87. I don't understand where you get the word interfere

How is it interference to sit down and discuss an issue as important as military action and a potential trigger for World War III? How is it admirable to remain as ignorant as possible befor casting a vote of incredible importance? I would want every scrap of information I could get so I could make the wisest possible choice. Why is that frowned on now? Why do we cheer the effort to remain stubbornly ignorant?

This is the first time I've ever seen this attitude. Normally we want people to discuss and consider their votes.

[davidpdx]

61. Churchill was invited by Congress to speak

and while we were at war during each of the times he spoke (41, 43, and 52) he wasn't lobbying Congress. Clearly that is what the Russians were seeking to do. Kerry met with Assad as a Senator on a Congressional Delegation. Those are sanctioned meetings. What you are supporting taking foreign policy out of the hands of the elected head of state.

[pnwmom]

67. But our Congress didn't travel to England to lobby their legislature.

Congress didn't agree to meet with the Russian legislators because that isn't how our government is set up. Churchill speaking with Congress would be comparable to Putin meeting with them -- not Russian legislators.

[mick063]

48. Of course the defense contractors are behind this.

They want to start up the $$$$$ cold war $$$$$ again.

If push comes to shove, I expect a preemptive strike on somebody, somewhere, to force us into further military expansion.

Defense spending more than the next ten countries combined simply isn't enough. Meanwhile Grandpa can retire at 75.

[tazkcmo]

62. Grandpa's a slacker.

What's he gonna do for the rest of his life? What a taker!

[snappyturtle]

63. This is a missed opportunity. What are our congressional leaders

afraid of?

[pnwmom]

68. They're "afraid" of appearing to be influenced by the foreign legislators

instead of by the people they're SUPPOSED to be listening to -- their constituents.

[snappyturtle]

73. Oh, that's very open minded of them.

Are they so weak they can be influenced by foreign
legislators? I think talking might help diffuse the
situation long enough so some common sense can
rise to the surface.

[pnwmom]

76. Right. People like Rubio and Graham and Boehner are really going to help defuse the situation.

[snappyturtle]

79. Who knows? They can't succeed if they don't try.

I've never seen a dispute settled when one party leaves the
room. Even if they tried and failed, at least they tried but
I guess it's better to extend what many perceive as
arrogance on the part of the U.S.

[pnwmom]

85. They wouldn't try! They don't care what Obama does as long as he fails. n/t

[hrmjustin]

64. Congress would have been fools to meet them. Obama would have destroyed them politically for meeting

them.

[DevonRex]

66. GOOD FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS. I don't give one

flying fuck what Putin's RT propaganda has to say, either. And personally, I don't like it when anybody favors Russia OVER the United States. When anybody TRUSTS Russia MORE than the United States. When anybody thinks that Russian lawmakers have any goddamned RIGHT to come here and try to "school" OUR lawmakers.

RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS JUST MADE A LAW THAT ALLOWS IMPRISONMENT OF LGBTs AND ANYBODY WHO SAYS BEING GAY IS NORMAL IN PUBLIC. FUCK THEM.

[KharmaTrain]

75. Wait...What??

...the other day I was told there were no Russian supporters here on DU. That I had to "put up or shut up". So we obviously must be hallucinating...

[DevonRex]

78. No, we are NOT hallucinating. They believe Putin will return Russia to communism.

They revere Russia for its past, but a heavily edited past. And for some reason it doesn't matter that it's not a communist country now, or that it's oppressive to liberals and has made criminals of LGBTs and their supporters, or that it's an open ally of Iran, or that it arms Assad who tortured for GWB and who's using CW on his own people.

[KharmaTrain]

80. The Golden Age Of The Gulag...

...yep remember it well. There's the "blame America first and often" crowd that love them some Putin and any other anyone who will make this administration and country look bad. I do not want this country to take any military action in Syria unless it has both Congressional and U.N.approval...and that we're not going it alone. The shame is on the international community that stands back while this slaughter goes on and shrugs their shoulders. Double shame on those who support Assad whose family's history of mass murder is well documented and brought on this rebellion by his repressive government. Those Russian legislators should be doing the same thing ours our...questioning and debating their country's role. They should be in Putin's face not President Obama's....

Cheers...

[pnwmom]

69. Our Congress is supposed to be listening to US -- their constituents -- not lobbying

from foreign legislators.

No matter what position a member of Congress takes on the issue of an attack on Syria, s/he doesn't want to appear to have been influenced by a foreign government rather than his or her constituents.