The Washington Post : “Mr. Obama’s Apparent Faith That Mr. Putin
Is Ready To Do Business With Him Is At Odds With The Strongman’s Recent
Behavior.” “Mr. Obama’s apparent faith that Mr. Putin is ready to do business
with him is at odds with the strongman’s recent behavior — including his abrupt
cancellation of a planned visit to Camp David.” (Editorial, “Time For U.S.
Leadership On Syria,” The Washington Post ,
5/29/12)
PUTIN DOESN’T WANT TO TALK
Putin Rejected Obama’s Offer For “Landmark
Bilateral Talks At The White House” Earlier This Month. “Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this
month rejected an offer from United States (US) President Barack Obama for
landmark bilateral talks at the White House, the Kremlin revealed on Tuesday.”
(“Putin Rejected Obama's White House Talks Offer: Kremlin,” AFP, 5/29/12)
Putin Did Not Attend The Summit Of World Leaders
That Obama Hosted At Camp David, Underscoring The “Difficult Start To Their Relationship.” “Russia's
newly inaugurated president, Vladimir V. Putin, will not attend a summit
meeting of world leaders in Maryland next week, the White House said on
Wednesday, postponing until June the much-anticipated first meeting of
President Obama and Mr. Putin as the leaders of their respective countries. The
surprising White House announcement, which came after a telephone call between
the men, serves to underscore what appears to be a difficult start to their
relationship.” (Helene Cooper and Ellen Barry, “Putin To Skip Group Of 8
Session, Delaying Postelection Meeting With Obama,” The New York Times, 5/9/12)
OBAMA’S HOPE FOR PUTIN’S COOPERATION IN SYRIA
DOESN’T MATCH REALITY
The Washington Post : “The reality is that the killing in
Syria will continue, and the threat to vital U.S. interests across the Middle
East will grow, until Mr. Obama stops counting on the likes of Kofi Annan and
Vladimir Putin to spare him from the responsibility that should be shouldered
by a U.S. president. The longer he waits, the greater the cost — in children’s
lives, among other things.” (Editorial, “Time For U.S. Leadership On Syria,” The Washington Post ,
5/29/12)
The Obama Administration
Refuses To Take Further Action In Syria “Without The International Community’s
Backing, Something Russia Remains Opposed To Allowing.”
“One
of the biggest obstacles for the Obama administration is Russia, which has
supported the ceasefire but has also backed Assad and allegedly provided arms
to the Syrian army. While Obama administration officials have frequently
accused Russia of being complicit in the deaths of Syrians, they’ve also said
they won’t take stronger action without the international community’s backing,
something Russia remains opposed to allowing. Russia and China, who has joined
the Russians vetoing more UN action, were invited to this week’s Friends of
Syria meeting, but the countries did not attend.” (Jeremy Herb, “Obama Faces
Tough Choices In Syria,” The Hill's
"DEFCON Hill", 4/21/12)
