Posted on 09/30/2015 8:54:22 AM PDT by xzins
NEW YORK -- Defending Bashar Assad as the only "legitimate" leader of the Syrian state, Russian President Vladimir Putin recommitted Moscow's support to his government on Monday in a speech to the United Nations.
In his first address to the assembly hall in a decade, Putin chided western powers for their efforts to undermine Assad, who has presided over a country now four and a half years enmeshed in violent civil war. According to the UN, over 210,000 Syrians have died since 2011, and half of the country's population has been displaced.
"We should finally acknowledge that no one but President Assad's Armed Forces and Kurd militia are truly fighting the Islamic State," Putin said. Warning that foreign fighters recruited from Islamic State may one day return home to Europe and Russia, he added: "We cannot allow these criminals who tasted blood to return home."
"The situation is more than dangerous," Putin said. "In these circumstances, it is hypocritical and irresponsible to make loud declarations about the threat of international terrorism while turning a blind eye to the channels of financing and supporting terrorists."
Putin is attempting to lead an anti-Islamic State coalition built around Assad, beginning with an effort to walk countries back from their calls for his departure. In the last month, Russia has begun a significant forward deployment of Russian military equipment on newly-built Russian military bases in Western Syria.
In his speech, Putin suggested a United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize the fight against Islamic State-- and condemn all efforts to suppress it.
US President Barack Obama rejected Russia's strategy on Monday, warning that any military escalation would further destabilize the region. He also reiterated his assertion that Assad had lost "legitimacy" as ruler of Syria.
Nevertheless, Obama also called for a realist "compromise" with Russia and Iran that will definitively end the fighting.
Putin took aim at the United States with several veiled references to the policies of the Bush administration. He condemned efforts by the former Soviet Union to export its ideological governing model abroad, and chided the United States for its own efforts to spread democracy around the world.
"We should all remember what our past has taught us," Putin said. "We also remember certain episodes from the history of the Soviet Union. 'Social experiments' for export, attempts to push for changes within other countries based on ideological preferences, often led to tragic consequences and to degradation rather than progress."
"It seems, however, that far from learning from others' mistakes, everyone just keeps repeating them," he continued. "And so the export of revolutions, this time of so-called 'democratic' ones, continues."
But Obama continued that effort in his own speech earlier that morning.
"It's not simply a matter of principle; it's not an abstraction," Obama said. "Democracy-- inclusive democracy-- makes countries stronger."
In his speech, Putin suggested a United Nations Security Council resolution that would authorize the fight against Islamic State-- and condemn all efforts to suppress it.
Putin is clearly correct. Where is ‘NO bomba”?
Is that why he just told Americans to stop bombing IsIS while he was bombing the FSA?
Ask Reggie.
Is that when he told them not to fly in his area?
There is no distinction between Free Syrian Army and ISIS anywhere other than MSNBC.
Once again, I can’t disagree with Putin.
“Nevertheless, Obama also called for a realist “compromise” with Russia and Iran that will definitively end the fighting. “
To the US government, “end the fighting” means Assad surrender and our depraved side rolls into Damascus like the NVA into Saigon. Blowing up people who oppose Assad is “not helpful”.
No, he told Obama to get out of the way and let the Russians take care of business since the Americans either can’t or won’t.
What’s the FSA?
I never thought the day would come when I am nodding along while reading Putin’s words. The time has come (and is long over due) for the complete eradication of ISIS, even Putin is realizing this.
Good God Almighty, how did we ever get ourselves into this mess? A Muslim president is bad. A Marxist president is bad. Combine that with a cowardly moron for a president and its Katie bar the door.
A terrorist group.
That would be the United States Govt. and Administration as evidenced by :
Benghazi armliments
$5oo Million dollars used to train solders who abandoned their weapons, vehicles and turned them over to ISIS
Obama directing the bombing of unoccupied ISIS buildings , at night. Etc.., etc.. etc..
Putin, you and I, and many know Obama has not really been fighting ISIS, he was using fighting ISIS to actually go after his real goal, the goal he had all along. Ousting Assad.
So Putin now into Syria to keep Assad in place and Fight ISIS and the FSA(which is made up of terror groups and ISIS).
Such a mess.
All of these entries into The ME to depose dictators has been a disaster. The lies never end with this White House.
One thing I am certain of, is that this State Department/CIA parlor game is not work one single American life, or 10 American dollars.
Ever dime spent in the middle east would be better spent paying off the college loans, and buying motorboats for random US citizens until the fund is exhausted.
Except Putin isn’t bombing ISIS. He’s bombing the armed opposition that is anti-Assad and anti-ISIS. Tyrants stick together.
I predict that Russian jets will be falling out of the skies shortly.
Assad is fighting Juan MeCain's Freedom Fighters, better know as ISIS.
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