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Syrian Opposition Wants US Weapons Fast
[original title to article Kerry tackles Congo and Syria conflicts – Oui]UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (ABC News) – The leader of Syria’s Western-backed opposition group told U.S. Secretary John Kerry that the United States must quickly supply rebels with promised weapons to prevent a military victory by President Bashar Assad’s regime.
Ahmad Al-Jarba, in a statement sent out while he was still meeting with Kerry at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, called the situation in Syria “desperate” and said the opposition urgently needs American action “to push the international community to demand a political transition.”
The newly elected head of the Syrian National Coalition accused the Assad regime of using indiscriminate weapons ranging from chemical weapons to cluster bombs and said opposition fighters must have weapons to defend themselves and protect civilians.
“There is no military solution to Syria,” Kerry then told reporters
Ban Ki-moon: Political process only way to solve Syrian crisis
(CCTV) May 30, 2013 – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says “only a political process can resolve” the crisis in Syria. Speaking at a news conference in New York, he said Russia and the United States have asked him to convene UN sponsored talks aimed at ending the civil war as soon as possible. He’s also commented that difficulties lie ahead.
Ban Ki-moon said, “We have yet to find out, agree, mutually agreeable and convenient date for a meeting, and also we have to see how the opposition groups are discussing their unity issues.”
Kerry in Saudi Arabia: US believes political solution is best for Syrian crisis
(CCTV) June 26, 2013 – Saudi Arabia has called the involvement of Iran and Hezbollah in Syria’s civil war as dangerous, and said the rebels must be offered military aid to defend themselves.
Speaking at a news conference with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry in Jeddah, Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said his country would respond to the Iranian intervention. He also called for an international resolution to ban arms flows to the Syrian government.
Meanwhile, Kerry said the US believes an international conference offers the best chance to bring about a political solution. He added the US would continue to provide assistance to Syrian opposition forces. Kerry returned to the Middle East after a two-day visit to India. He has held discussions with Prince Saud and Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan on the Syrian crisis.
Obstacles John Kerry needs to overcome; the likes of Samantha Power and “humanitarian” Susan Rice
Jon Stewart merciless on Obama and the GOP Hawks about Syria
(Mediate) – Republicans like Graham and John McCain don’t want boots on the ground, and Stewart couldn’t help but wonder how the hell that’s supposed to happen if the U.S. is going to arm the rebels and then consequently asking for those arms back. But any action is going to run into roadblocks at the U.N., and Stewart found it awkward that any potential intervention in Syria relies on “convincing Vladimir Putin that it’s bad to poison people.”
Stewart called out GOP senators and George W. Bush for not learning any lessons from Iraq, suggesting “that little misadventure made us a little more cautious” about how we handle red lines.
