Or the October Surprise made by Democrats USA …
John Kerry threatens to end Syria talks with Russia over Aleppo | CBS News |
WASHINGTON – Secretary of State John Kerry is threatening to cut off all contacts with Moscow over the 5-year-old Syrian civil war, unless Russian and Syrian government attacks on Aleppo end.
The State Department says Kerry issued the ultimatum in a Wednesday telephone call to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Kerry’s spokesman, John Kirby, says Kerry expressed grave concern over Russian and Syrian government attacks on hospitals, water supplies and other civilian infrastructure in Aleppo.
He says Kerry told Lavrov that the U.S. holds Russia responsible for the use of incendiary and bunker-buster bombs in an urban area.
Kerry told Lavrov the U.S. was preparing to “suspend U.S.-Russia bilateral engagement on Syria,” including on a proposed counterterrorism partnership, “unless Russia takes immediate steps to end the assault on Aleppo” and restore a cease-fire.
It’s not clear whether this is a new position for the U.S. or not. On Tuesday, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said it’s difficult to envision any military cooperation with Russia in Syria because Moscow has repeatedly failed to fulfill its commitments to the cease-fire deal.
Top U.S. general: Unwise to share intelligence with Russia on Syria | Reuters |
- ○ Syria – Conflicting Reports, Dubious Witnesses Challenge Convoy Attack Case | MoA |
○ Syria – Ceasefire deal breakdown shows US under military rule | Sputnik News |
○ Syria ceasefire under threat after US-led strikes kill regime troops in Deir Ezzor | CNN Report |
Moscow says US failed to separate rebels from terrorists in response to US threats | Russia Today |
The US holds Russia responsible for the violence in Aleppo and is threatening to break off all cooperation with Moscow in Syria, the State Department said. Russia is asking the US live up to its obligation to separate US-backed opposition from terrorists.
In a phone conversation with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday morning, the US Secretary of State John Kerry “expressed grave concern” over the “attacks on hospitals, the water supply network, and other civilian infrastructure in Aleppo” by the Russian and Syrian forces, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
« click for more info
Militants of Nusra Front, Syria's Qaeda branch. (File photo)Meanwhile Lavrov said that
“a number of anti-government groups, which Washington considers moderate ones, refused to follow Russia-US ceasefire agreement from September 9, but instead are joining Jabhat al-Nusra, continuing to fight the Syrian army along with this al-Qaeda branch.”
Despite breaking ties with al-Qaeda, Syria’s Nusra remains a target for US and Russia
○ Fight Al-Nusra, no strikes on rebels, Aleppo relief: Kerry and Lavrov agree new Syria ceasefire plan
○ Vladimir Putin questions US commitment to Syria ceasefire deal | The Gusrdian |
