E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
President Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, met on Monday for the first time since the violent uprising in Syria began to discuss possible actions to limit further bloodshed in the meeting.
Putin, who reassumed the presidency of Russia earlier this year, met with Obama in bilateral talks that stretched for some time; both leaders were in Mexico for this week's G-20 summit.
Both leaders said they found common ground on the conflict, but shed little light on the steps upon which they agreed were needed to mount the violence between the Syrian people and the country's rulers. Putin is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has generally resisted imposing more sanctions on that regime.
Putin shared just two sentences on the issue of Syria, speaking through a translator: “We also discussed international affairs, including the Syrian affair. From my perspective, we've been able to find many commonalities pertaining to all of those issues.”
Obama said the leaders “agreed that we need to see a cessation of the violence, that a political process has to be created to prevent civil war, and the kind of horrific events that we've seen over the last several weeks, and we pledged to work with other international actors including the United Nations, [UN Special Envoy] Kofi Annan, and all the interested parties in trying to find a resolution to this problem.”
At a press briefing after the two leaders met, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, stressed that Putin supports a political transition in which Assad loses power, even if the Russian president is not as vocal about such views as other leaders.
“It's true the Russians have not publicly issued the same type of call for Assad to step down,” Rhodes acknowledged.
During the meeting, President Obama also said the two leaders discussed negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, stressing the “shared approach” among members of the P5+1, a group that includes the U.S., Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany, in their dealings toward the Iranian regime.
That emphasis on a shared approach highlights Russia's opposition to unilateral sanctions against Iran, such as the ones installed by the United States against countries that do business with Iranian oil companies. Just last week, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference in Iran that “unilateral sanctions by others will never have a positive and constructive outcome.”
Obama also made a passing reference to an issue that has been a key factor in US-Russia relations, but over which the president recently got into domestic political hot water: missile defense.
During a meeting in March with then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Obama was caught on a hot microphone saying he would have “more flexibility” on the missile shield issue after the November elections, to which Medvedev uttered the now-infamous response, “I will transmit this information to Vladimir.” Republicans pounced on the exchange, saying it represented American weakness on the international stage.
But today, Putin gave little indication of just what was transmitted, as the only thing either leader said on the topic was that it was discussed among a “range of strategic issues,” according to Obama, and that they “resolved to continue to work through some of the difficult problems involved there.”
The interaction between the two leaders, meeting for just the second time, was perceived by the press in the room as somewhat chilly. As the group of journalists was ushered out of the room, “Messrs. Obama and Putin remained seated, their interpreters had stepped away, sitting side-by-side on the other side of the room -- and they just stared straight ahead. No interacting or chit chatting,” one pool reporter wrote.
But administration officials later urged observers not to read in to the encounter.
“This isn’t the first Body Language-Gate that we've had with the Russians,” Rhode said, noting that relations between Obama and Medvedev, who are considered to have a more friendly relationship than that between Obama and Putin, have also been perceived as frosty.
“That's just his style. I would encourage you not to read too much into that as part of relationship,” said U.S. ambassador to Russia Mike McFaul, also at the briefing today.
Leave a Comment:
No worries...
If this country is dumb enough to elect Willard, we will be at war with Iran & Syria by 2.1.2013!
The neocon chicken-hawks are just itching for another battle now that we are no longer in a combat role in Iraq & winding down in Afghanistan!
Oh, yeah, what are Willard's foreign policy credential... again?
Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly worried about the fall of Assad, Russia's longtime and last remaining ally in the Middle East, experts say.
Alex Weinberg/First Read:
At a press briefing after the two leaders met, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications, stressed that Putin supports a political transition in which Assad loses power, even if the Russian president is not as vocal about such views as other leaders.
Joint Statement by Obama and Putin:
In order to stop the bloodshed in Syria, we call for an immediate cessation of all violence and express full support for the efforts of UN/League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy Kofi Annan, including moving forward on political transition to a democratic, pluralistic political system that would be implemented by the Syrians themselves in the framework of Syria's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. We are united in the belief that the Syrian people should have the opportunity to independently and democratically choose their own future.
*************
Here's hoping these two leaders see eye to eye going forward regarding Syria and these statements aren't just empty words.
I wonder what Willard would see if he had the chance to look into Putin's eyes?
We all know what "W" saw;
As if Nancy Reagan reading Tarot cards wasn't enough, we had Dubya connecting telepathically with the Romulian mind-bend!
Feisty, I remember quite well when GWB said those words.
We'll see what happens with Syria. Who knows, perhaps Putin sees the writing on the wall.
It's Ali, not Alex. So sorry.
Come on Feisty, you know full well Willard would hide behind Ann Romney's skirt rather than look Putin in the eye!
So do I Pat!
I thought at the time... are you freakin KIDDING ME?
The idiot was so far in over his head, it wasn't even funny!
There is no doubt, "W" is going to be remembered as the worst President in this country's history!
LOL!
Al,
Are you talking about the same Annie who according to her husband has a serious addiction problem with fancy horse ballet?
Something tells me Romney has such a huge ego, he would bypass Iran/Syria and go straight for the biggest guy on the block, Russia. What better way to reduce unemployment than by implementing the draft and sending troops to Russia. How better to enrich the rich than by inventing war. What better way to meet that GOP/TP goal of ushering in the end-days by creating a nuclear wasteland. Good old GOP/TP and their Money, God, Guns, and Nukes.
On a sillier note, if Romney wins, Putin may want to make sure he keeps that head shaved close to the scalp .. we all know how Romney loves to pull out the shears and give you a good gotcha clip.
Feisty, shhh! Whatever the Romneys do is okay. Only John Kerry can be viewed as elite. Not GWB, not the Romneys.
Just John Kerry, who by the way is an excellent Senator when it comes to who he supports in this country. Democrats. Money or no money. Seems to me that's what is important. You can count on his vote.
Her horse does ballet? You're kidding? That's what the horse is going to do at the Olympics?
The above 9 comments are testament to libs amazing geosychronous ability to orbit above earth ... simply complete detachment from reality and childlike understanding of the real world.
Aside from the article and serious stuff like US F-22 fighter squadrons, (our best - not the ones used in Iraq and Afghanistan), being moved to UAE ....
You guys always cry and bleat about more firefighters and police.
Why can you not see the need for the international equivalent, our military?
The only bad guys in the world are in America?
No need to worry about nuclear firestorms .... just hire more union firefighters and everything is okey dokey?
Why such a long wait? More like 1/21/13. There's profits in making war, Feisty. Ask Dick Cheney about Haliburton. And don't think for a moment that Willard would offer any of his sons for service either. Not going down that road.
What's u with all these Democrats not wanting to go to Obama's convention?
Now the Governor of West Virginia is joining Manchin and others in sitting this one out
Hell, they won't even admit if they voted for Obama in the primary....
It's like a nightmare that just keeps getting worse for the poor old moonbats.
Us libbies fully understand the term war mongers - we can even use it in a sentence.
Bush and his war monger crowd consisting of Cheney, Rumsfield, and half the GOP party were so intent on waging war they created false intelligence concerning WMDs to scare the American public into backing their faux war effort.
You sure got that right Red!
Damn chicken-hawks sent how many of our brave service members to their death in the name of OIL?
Weren't we told by these children-killers - the Iraq war would pay for itself?
HalliburtonCheney was electrocuting our youth in the God-Damn showers...None of these war-mongers had any SKIN in the GAME!
Just John Kerry, who by the way is an excellent Senator
He certainly picked a terrific guy for his runningmate!
Were was Darryl Issa and the teabaggers calling for investigation when Haliburton was murdering our soldiers? Why wasn't a contempt of Congress issued for Cheney?
You want to talk running mates ROB?
What about GWB?
Edwards ruined his family.
Cheney caused hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. Hundreds of thousands. You got that?
Republicans. Not an ounce of humanity in them. Not one single ounce.
None of these war-mongers had any SKIN in the GAME!
Yet, it's all hail Obama when he sits at his desk circling the the names of those he wishes to execute via drone attacks. How many afghan children has Obama killed? Strange how the media does seem to dig into it. You also don't hear much about the casualty rate in Afghanistan tripling under Obama.
Where is Cindy Sheehan, anyway? No coffin pictures anymore?
Ahhh.... my little pet full of @!$%# troll chimes in...
Hilarious Fiesty!!! Take that you Republican rat bastards. I kind of mean that in a nice way. Seriously. Snicker, snicker.
Bush called President Putin, "Pooty Poot Poot". So what he saw in President Putin's eyse may have been misleading. Georgie's pal Pootie Poot Poot may have looked a little fuzzy after Georgie got a vist from some other pals of his. Those pals were, Johnny Walker, Old Grandad, and Jack Daniels, of course.
There are a few photos over at The Obama Diary with Putin and Obama together, and to be honest, there was nothing chilly about their interactions from what these photos showed. The photos are kind of cute actually.
I hope you all just caught Howard Dean on Ed's show.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE SELLING AMERICA TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
Yet according to Howard Fineman, it is Obama whom the media want to destroy. If Mr. Fineman were any kind of journalist with integrity, he would have screamed loud about that little known fact. Assuming of course, he didn't approve of it.
I hope you all just caught Howard Dean on Ed's show.
I'm sure it was very compelling but I was watchIng O'Reilly's piece on Obama admitting on Friday that he intends on violating his oath of office to uphold the law but not upholding US immigration laws.
The Romneys declared a loss of $77,000 on their 2010 tax returns for the share in the care and feeding of Rafalca, which Mrs. Romney owns 1/3 of.
A dancing horse for crying out loud - no wonder Romney will not release his tax returns. What else is he hiding?
I'll bet Obama double checked that the microphones were off this time so he could conspire with our enemy against the American voters. Wonder what he promised his buddy Vlad? What ever it is, he knows we won't like it.
What form of insanity does it take to get people to support Obama when he's making deals with the Russians that he can't reveal until after the election?
Does anybody think Obama begging the Russians to wait until after the election is a sign of strength? If I'm Putin, I'm thinking, "Ok, Obama is afraid of us and he's afraid of the American Voters, I like this guy."
When JFK showed weakness to Khrushchev in Berlin, the Russians decided they could get away with putting missiles in Cuba. I'm sure Obama has them dreaming up some ideas.
Yeah, uh, Syria and Egypt suck.. In fact the entire region sucks, and unfortunately it's only getting worse.
But as bad as it is, it is of little concern as compared to Greece, Italy, Spain and the economic sink hole that is the Eurozone.
So what's O's plan A, B, or C?
The Willard-Ryan plan would be to impose a massive austerity program on the US, just like what Europe is doing now. If that happened, we would share the same bleak economic outlook that Europe now has. What is Willard's plan for Europe, other than to hope it implodes so he can blame the President?
The President's plan is to strengthen our economy by creating jobs -- bills that GOP keep on filibustering and voting against.
GOP/Koch has blocked job creation since January 2009, when they pledged to do so on Inauguration Day.
So Backhouse - you speak of his plan.
So what has he been up to these last 3 and 1/2 years?
Practicing?
Kicking it?
Chillin'?
Wait,I know - Chooming.
Ah shucks - these crazy fools thinking Obama is the President of the U.S., Egypt, Syria, Greece, Spain and Italy, and blaming him for their failures. Proves the point that the GOP/TP will blame Obama for all failures in the universe (yes, even those exploding stars) just to feed their nasty pessimistic natures.
If Willard had been President, he would have hid in the ladies room rather than meet face to face with Putin.
Willard would say exactly what he is told to say. (ala Koch, Norquist etc. )
Feisty asks for Mitt's credentials?
Huh, I do not seem to recall her asking about O's back in '08.
How utterly silly, even for the old gal.
But then again look at what he's done lately. Egypt is sinking, as is Libya. Man, he kinda sucks at middle east policy, eh?
Too bad he already blew his Bin Laden wad.
But, Spanky, Obama is really, really flexible- and will be even more flexible after "his" election. I wonder if he still thinks its a done deal.
Putin sure doesn't.
Here's the deal- Romney is a master negotiator. Obama? Not so much. If they refuse to swoon at his feet, he's out of options.
Funny- fewer and fewer are swooning. Seems most people now realize he's so far out of his depth he can't see land.
Here's the deal- Romney is a master negotiator
No-blow, Don't you mean that Mitten's is a master-bater?
At what - negotiating for federal funds to pay for the Olympics? That is begging, not negotiating.
wtf kind of idiotic spin is that? Is it the POTUS' job to dictate to other sovereign nations what kind of government they must install? Stupid question because in your world, the answer is yes. Of course, if Obama did that, you would accuse him of socialist expansion. Can't win either way. And I say it again, you can't fix stupid. I try very hard to avoid commenting on your posts, Spunkface, but sometimes I just can't resist.
NJNB -- Romney would struggle with that 3:00 AM phone call. He is not exactly decisive.
Right, DCIA- because everyone knows that extremely successful business people have great difficulty making decisions.
By the way- on at least two occasions, when faced with a crisis, Romney acted swiftly, decisively, and successfully. One one occasion, he actually shut down his business, and moved his staff to Manhattan to find a colleagues missing teenaged daughter; on another, he rescued a family from drowning.
Given the same circumstances, it's pretty clear what Obama would have done-
Played golf.
Of COURSE no jo: Mittens was out searching every street in New York City for his colleague's brat daughter.
We all know what Mittens would do in a crisis, because he has always done it. When his nation should have been able to count on him to serve in them military, he ran to France, to (and I laugh as I write this) convert a Catholic Country to, to of all things MORMONISM, staying in a mansion and having a heck of a good time. When it came time for his sons to be in the military, Mittens said "it was more important that they serve the country by getting HIM elected."
These are just the people you want in the White House. Everyone else to serve their needs. Mittens has made it clear, he wants the Presidency because he and Annie need a bright, shiny new toy to play with.
He knows nothing about world affairs, he only knows how to steal money from those he considers to be beneath him.
That would be YOU, no jo.
No jo.
You hold that missing girl up as high praise...Well first I'm thankful no harm came to the girl....
But....when the elitest 1% has all the resources for money and time what outcome would you expect.
Now compare that to the working poor; thier child goes missing, has to beg for time off unpaid of course and has to reley on underfunded police and social services for help...guese what most likely the child isn't found.
So you hold this up as an example to defend Romney; I find it as example of what's wrong with America that the Republican Party cannot or more importantly WILL not address.
Can't you just hear Mittens if people are stupid enough to elect him?
"Well, we can't, if you will, have people not listening to the powers that be here, sauce for the goose and all that. Plus, I have all these cute armaments to use and play with, why it will be like a giant game of Battlefield. My young lads will have to stay here out of harm's way, of course. Necessary to the family...."
What a freaking NIGHTMARE!
And 77% voted to keep property taxes in North Dakota, Spanky, "teabaggers" were defeated on EVERYTHING they tried there.
Hmmm....
Appears SpankMe doesn't want to discuss his major snafu last week! lol
He does run away from it, doesn't he Feisty?
Typical tea-bagging Blowhard - NDD!
They can never ever own up to their mistakes!
But, it is fun to watch... lol
Oh, he's around, pissing and moaning about Obama's failure to fix Egypt, Syria, Greece, Spain and Italy.
And fun to remind him.
LOL @ horse boy and the redheaded slut cocktail.
your going to hang your ideological hat on a vote in North Dakota.. wow, have either of you been to North Dakota? or could find it on a map?
So after getting CRUSHED in the recall of Walker, your flailing about looking for hope. I hear there was a PTA meeting in Hawaii that went the liberals way - they limited all soft drinks to 8oz only in schools!!!
Hope is all you got left because after 4 years - he just didn't deliver for the cause did he? Gitmo (OPEN) Public Option (NOPE) Wars (still going) , Unemployment (viva la 8%) Wall Street (bigger badder, and holding more of the economy % than any presidents history - thank you OBAMA!). Face it horse boy and cocktail you have no reason to vote OBAMA - even you wish Hillary would come riding down for NORTH DAKOTA!!! hahaha pathetic'
joshua w morris
Putin could easily outsmart Mitt-wit. Besides, Mitt thinks Russia is the Soviet Union which collapsed and fragmented 15 years ago. Mitt's foreign policy experience is limited to his bank accounts and a few strolls in Paris.
Mitt's foreign policy experience is limited to ... a few walks in Paris.
During the Vietnam War. A war he applauded. And a war he didn't fight in.
What are you, 8 years old playing my dad could beat up your dad? How do you know Putin could outsmart Romney? Based on what? What the hell are you talking about?
What about your guy? Putin didn't have to outsmart Obama. Obama outsmarted himself before Putin said anything. Please, Vlad, please. Give me more time on missile defense until I get past the election. I promise I can make you happy. Let me fool the American voters first and then I'm all yours.
There's a strategy for you. Might work on the French or the Swiss. The Russians are laughing at us.
The Gop want to take money from the middle class and the poor to do what?...SPEND on WAR...TAX CUTS!!
Putin could easily outsmart Mitt-wit. Besides, Mitt thinks Russia is the Soviet Union which collapsed and fragmented 15 years ago.
Affinity - Mitten's could bring in "Sarah" to help him out. I mean, who's better qualified than someone who can see Russia from their front porch.....
It is good to see diplomacy and the US working WITH our world partners rather than cowboy diplomacy as we saw not long ago and may well see again if Mr. Obama doesn't remain in office.
You are deluding yourself if you think you can "work with" the Russians from any position other than strength. Obama has exposed the weakness of his knees when it comes to Russia and it will take some extraordinary event to gain their respect. For JFK, it was the Cuba Missile Crisis which, thank goodness, he was able to conclude peacefully.
I doubt the Obama team could have pulled that one out of the fire. All they can think about is votes. Let's see would the Russian nukes land on Democratic states or Republican states?
I wonder what that POS obama had to say with the microphones OFF this time... Back stabbing country hating dude that he is...
Feisty Redhead:
No comment on the actions of President Obama? Straight to the attacks on Romney?
I guess you're just as unimpressed as the rest of us with how horribly this went today.
The New York Times is reporting that Bloomberg said that he believed Mr. Romney would probably be better at running the country than Mr. Obama !!
The only thing that can be said to that is - DUH !!
Vlad is sending attack helicopters and war ships to Syria - Isn't he afraid of the US response - No, he knows Obama is a wimp. Its just one Dictator helping another Dictator - And Obama does - didly squat