Kerry Castigates Russia Over Syria-Bound Missiles
Source: New York Times
Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday strongly criticized Russias pledge to send advanced antiaircraft weapons to Syria, saying that its actions threatened to disrupt efforts to negotiate a political settlement of the Syrian conflict and posed an unacceptable risk to Israel.
Whether its an old contract or not, it has a profoundly negative impact on the balance of interests and the stability of the region, and it does put Israel at risk, Mr. Kerry said at the State Department, making his most pointed statement yet about Russias arming of the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria.
It is not in our judgment responsible because of the size of the weapon, the nature of the weapon and what it does to the region in terms of Israels security, he said.
Russias announcement last week that it would go ahead with the sale of sophisticated S-300 missiles to Syria and Mr. Assads defiant boasts on Thursday about the durability of his Russian weapons supply have added a dangerous new dimension to the civil war in Syria, even as Mr. Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, have worked together to hold an international conference in hopes of finding a way to end the fighting.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/01/world/middleeast/kerry-castigates-russia-over-syria-bound-missiles.html
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)if Israel violates Syria's airspace. Otherwise no reason to suspect so.
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)Question: How does Syria having defensive anti-aircraft weapons "put Israel at risk"? Does he mean Israeli might have to risk one of its jets getting shot down next time it attacks Syria?
John2
(2,730 posts)are crazy. Since when did Israel become an Ally of Russia and when did Syria not? That is how stupid his statement was. Israel might have nuclear weapons and our Government has been supplying them with superior weapons for years. I'm an American,Kerry. I'm not bound to any country except the United States and don't put any country ahead of my own. I think many in our Congress has put Israel on the same level or even above our own Country when it comes to Foreign Affairs. I have never agreed with them, that our interests is tied to Israel. If Israel has nuclear weapons, then isn't it logical hs already been introduced in the Middle East. Why is this so hard for people like John Kerry to understand? When we keep supplying Israel with sophisticated.S. technology or weapons, the Balance has already been tipped! Just listen to yourself because everybodyelse can see the hypocrisy of your statements! There are a lot of Americans in this country, will not be led by the stupidity of this Government or we would be no better than Nazi Germany. Once we recognize hypocrisy and stupidity of our leaders, then our moral standing will improve with the rest of the World. Just look at the way our Congress acts on Domestic Affairs. Why would they act any different on the International stage?