Clinton: Deep differences with Russia on Syria

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Associated Press

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday acknowledged deep differences with Russia over how to handle the crisis in Syria, saying she would continue to try to convince Moscow to back increased international pressure on Syrian President Bashar Assad even if such a step is unlikely.

A day after Russia soundly rejected her call for U.N. sanctions to be imposed on Syria if Assad refuses to stop fighting and relinquish power, Clinton said she was "realistic" in her approach. She said that if the Russians refused to go along the United States and its friends would boost their support for the Syrian opposition.

"The United States disagrees with the approach on Syria," she told reporters at a news conference at the end of the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit where she was filling in for President Barack Obama. "We have to bring more pressure to bear on the Assad regime to end the bloodshed and begin a political, democratic transition."

The Obama administration has been hoping to jack up pressure on Assad at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session and potentially introduce a new U.N. Security Council resolution that would include sanctions. Russia and China have blocked three previous similar resolutions because they could lead to sanctions.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/APEC_CLINTON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-09-09-02-35-58

[Igel]

1. Perhaps we can have a rerun of the '70s in foreign policy, too.

There's an insurgency, one side sends arms and helps through the random advisor and having a proxy send in munitions and troops. The other supports the current strong-arm dictators a bit more openly, when possible. Of course a lot of people insist this never happened. Uh-huh.

Eventually it all might lead to detente. And that might actually lead to addressing concerns and showing some sort of empathy and communication skills.

Russia's easy to figure out. And it really doesn't mind having the truth said. But when false things are said because they make the speaker look good, then you have problems.

So we have problems.

[David__77]

2. This is a repeat of the US policy of supporting the Afghan insurgents.

Make no mistake though: the Syrian government has a much broader base of support than did the Afghan government during the 1980s.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. This goes back to the 1950s.

The US and Britain fumbled a coup to overthrow the Syrian government in 1956. The Syrians responded by seeking aid and support from the Soviets. They've had a solid relationship ever since.

France apparently thinks it is still the colonial power there.