PUTIN GREETS OBAMA WITH SYRIA THREAT – President Obama arrived in Russia today to find the already failing relations with his host in even worse condition. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threat to provide his Syrian allies with a missile shield in the event of U.S. air strikes further complicates Obama’s flagging effort to win international support for an attack on Damascus. As the Guardian reports, Putin’s warning that an attack without UN backing would provoke military aid from Russia may drive away the handful of international partners for Obama’s proposed attack.
Liar’s poker in St. Petersburg – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that the main combat unit of the Syrian rebels is part of al Qaeda adds a further chill to U.S.-Russia relations. Putin said Secretary of State John Kerry “lies openly” about al Qaeda’s role among U.S.-backed rebels in Syria. Putin’s comments came after Kerry’s testy exchange with Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., over the role of terrorists groups in the rebellion. Kerry claimed that al Qaeda-allied groups were a small fraction of the force. State Department officials dismissed Putin’s charge.
[House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, told reporters he was “stunned” by Kerry’s claim.]
Video portrays role for radical Islam among Syrian rebels – Intelligence analysts are examining a new video featuring Syrian rebel commanders amid symbols of the Islamist movement. Chief Intelligence Correspondent Catherine Herridge is looking at warnings that radicals are seeking chemical weapons and their role among U.S.-backed Syrian rebels.
Seating shuffle – Sky News reports the seating plan at the summit has been changed to put more physical distance between President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, leaders will be seated based on the English alphabet. Had the Russian alphabet been used, Obama and Putin would have been seated considerably closer.
Putin’s press pounces - The headline of the Kremlin’s main newspaper, Rosssiyaka Gazeta, speaks to the growing tensions between the two leaders: “Obama Burnt His Peace Pipe.” The newspaper Izvestia claims President Obama wants to punish Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad because Obama wants to help American oil companies.
Drawing lines -“I didn’t set a red line; the world set a red line.” — President Obamaduring a Wednesday press conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
“I can’t imagine him saying that he didn’t draw the red line, but he did draw the red line.”—Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren”
Boehner balks at meeting with Russians – House Speaker John Boehner has refused the Russian Embassy’s request to meet with House leaders to make the case against a Syria strike.
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