The U.S. Gas Revolution Will Threaten Russian Economic Growth

Expert: U.S. Gas Revolution Threatens Russian Economic Growth -- Washington Free Beacon

Fracking is a ‘remarkable story of entrepreneurship’.

The burgeoning natural gas revolution in the United States threatens the central economic strategy of Russia and leaves its autocratic leaders with few alternatives to combat anemic economic growth, one expert said Wednesday.

Dr. Thane Gustafson, a political science at Georgetown University at Georgetown University and one of the world’s foremost experts on Russian energy, said the surge in U.S. natural gas production has undercut Russian gas exports to Europe and prompted executives to scuttle their plan for shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) to America.

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My Comment: Energy development has been the driving force of the Russian economy for the past two decades .... and the source of revenues for the government. Any disruption will have consequences .... not only on Russia but also on OPEC.

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Can Russia Veto Any Future U.S. Strike On Syria?

Putin's Foreign Minister Claims Russia Can Veto Future U.S. Strike In Syria -- Washington Examiner

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters that -- under the agreement negotiated with Secretary of State John Kerry -- Russia would have veto power over the use of military force to punish Syrian dictator Bashar Assad if he uses or retains some of his chemical weapons stockpiles.

"And of course, in these approaches agreed on, there is nothing said about the use of force, not about any automatic sanctions we – as I said, all violations should be approved in the Security Council convincingly," Lavrov said in his opening statement during a press conference Saturday with Kerry.

"Of course, it does not mean that every violation that will be reported to the Security Council will be taken by word," Lavrov said when a reporter asked for clarification on the threat of force.

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My Comment: The U.S. is saying a different story .... but the perception in places like Russia and the Middle East is that Russia has positioned itself to be able to direct political pressure and influence on any possible future U.S. strike on Syria.

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US-Russia Reach Deal On Syria's Chemical Weapons Stockpiles

U.S., Russia Agree To Framework On Syria Chemical Weapons -- CNN

(CNN) -- Russia and the United States announced Saturday that they have reached a groundbreaking deal on a framework to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons, after talks in Switzerland.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stood side-by-side as they set out a series of steps the Syria government must follow.

Syria must submit within one week a comprehensive list of its chemical weapons stockpile, Kerry said. International inspectors must be on the ground no later than November, he said.

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More News On The US-Russia Reach Deal On Syria

US-Russia agreement to destroy Syria’s chemical weapons at a glance -- Washington Post/AP
The US-Russia agreement on Syria's chemical weapons - deal in full -- The Telegraph
US, Russia agree on Syria chemical weapons plan -- AFP
US, Russia reach deal on framework to secure Syrian chemical weapons, set possible penalties -- Washington Post/AP
U.S., Russia reach agreement on seizure of Syrian chemical weapons arsenal -- Washington Post
U.S. and Russia Reach Deal to Secure Syria’s Chemical Arms -- New York Times
Agreement for destroying Syria's chemical weapons reached after intense negotiations between the US and Russia -- Daily Mail
The U.S.-Russia Agreement on Syria’s Chemical Weapons -- Wall Street Journal
U.S., Russia agree deal on Syria chemical weapons -- Reuters
Syria crisis: US and Russia agree chemical weapons deal -- The Guardian
US and Russia agree Syria chemical weapons deal in Geneva -- BBC
Kerry, Lavrov Outline Steps Syria Must Take -- Voice of America
Geneva deal on Syria is welcome step but deeper divisions remain -- Peter Beaumont, The Guardian

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Mocks US Secretary of State John Kerry For Talking To Much

John Kerry's Russian Counterpart Mocks Him For Talking Too Much -- Washington Examiner

Secretary of State John Kerry's negotiations with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov got off to a rocky start Thursday, with the Russian mocking Kerry right at the outset.

"They got off to a really bad start yesterday --- partly because of the Putin op-ed and partly because Kerry in the opening remarks spoke at length --- and I mean at length --- compared to the unprepared few welcoming comments from the Russian counterpart," NBC News foreign correspondent Andrea Mitchell said on "Morning Joe."

"And then the Russian minister said at the end, very tartly, 'Sometimes diplomacy demands silence.'"

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Update #1: Kerry Spars With Russia in Syria Talks -- ABC News
Update #2: Lavrov to Kerry: 'Don’t Worry' About What I Just Said -- Weekly Standard

My Comment: What is priceless was this comment ....

.... Lavrov admonished Kerry for his long presentation, saying "diplomacy likes silence" ....

Lavrov is clearly not a politician.

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On Day Two Of Talks Between Russia And The U.S. On Syria No Breakthrough Is Seen

Kerry, Lavrov: Syria Peace Conference Option Depends On Outcome Of Chemical Talks -- Washington Post

GENEVA — A proposal for an international peace conference to end the brutal Syrian civil war could be revived if negotiations over ridding the country of chemical weapons succeed, top U.S. and Russian diplomats said Friday.

The remarks by Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were the first explicit indication that the diplomacy begun this week to resolve the immediate crisis of threatened U.S. military strikes could be a gateway to a broader negotiation aimed at ending the 21 / 2-year-old conflict.

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More News On Russian - U.S. - Syrian Talks

Syria chemical weapons talks: day two - live updates -- The Guardian
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syrian crisis: Keeping up with key developments -- CNN
Lots of talks but no answers so far on Syrian chemical weapons -- CNN
Syria Talks Yield Plan to Discuss Peace Conference -- New York Times
Kerry, Russian counterpart look toward Syria peace conference -- L.A. Times
U.S., Russia see Syria arms deal aiding peace talks -- Reuters
Kerry Calls Talks Constructive With No Breakthrough Seen -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Syria chemical weapons talks 'constructive,' Kerry says -- NBC
Kerry calls Syria chemical weapons talks 'constructive' -- BBC
Kerry: Syria peace prospects ride on weapons talks -- USA Today
Kerry: U.S., Russia 'committed to a negotiated solution' on Syria -- UPI
Making Administration’s Case, Kerry Finds Six Words That Spell Trouble -- New York Times

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Talks Between The U.S. And Russia On Syria About To Begin In Geneva

Syria Talks Due To Start In Geneva -- Al Jazeera

US Secretary of State to meet Russian counterpart to discuss how UN can secure and destroy Assad's chemical weapons.

US secretary of state John Kerry has arrived in Geneva to meet Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov as the UN tries to forge an international plan to disarm the Syrian government of its chemical weapons.

Lavrov and Kerry will discuss efforts to agree a UN resolution on the issue, as well as the practicalities of finding, removing and destroying chemical stockpiles during a civil war in which more than 100,000 people have already died.

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More News On Talks Between The U.S. And Russia On Syria About To Begin In Geneva

Kerry set to test Russia on Syria weapons -- AP
U.S., Russian Envoys Arrive for Talks on Syria -- Wall Street Journal
Kerry arrives in Geneva for talks with Russia on Syria -- L.A. Times
Kerry, Lavrov Set for Crucial Syria Talks -- Voice of America
John Kerry Greeted in Geneva With Assad Diss -- ABC
Russia, U.S. work on deal to disarm Syria of poison gas -- Reuters
Kerry Set To Test Russia On Syria Weapons -- Time/AP
US eyes weapons 'declaration' as test of Assad's intentions -- FOX News
Geneva Talks on Syria Mark Big Test for U.S., Russia -- Wall Street Journal
Syria crisis: Russia chemicals plan doable, says US -- BBC
Obama Holds Fire on Syria, Waits on Russia Plan -- Wall Street Journal
Obama 'hopeful' about Syria talks -- USA Today
Kerry-Lavrov talks launch new phase in Syrian chemical weapons crisis -- Tom Cohen, CNN

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How Russia And The U.S. Cooperated In Developing The 'Syria Solution'

How The Syria Solution Developed: The Inside Story -- USA Today

The plan for securing Syria's chemical weapons has been developing for more than a year.

WASHINGTON — The idea of coming up with a plan to secure Syria's chemical weapons dates back more than a year, when President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin first discussed the matter on the sidelines of an economic summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.

At the time, the two — as they've been for much of the 2½-year Syrian civil war — remained far apart in their views on the conflict. During their talks in Los Cabos, Obama complained to Russia that its arms sale to Syria perpetuated the bloody conflict, while Putin argued that the sales were part of a longstanding relationship with the Bashar Assad regime, according a senior administration official, who was not authorized to discuss the deliberations and spoke on condition of anonymity.

But the two leaders seemed to find some common ground on the need to secure Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, although no agreement was reached.

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My Comment: USA Today's visual guide to understanding the crisis in Syria provides an excellent summary on what has ben happening in Syria since the the start of the civil war.

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Russian President Putin: U.S. Must Call Off It's Threat Of A Military Strike On Syria

Putin: Syria Chem Arms Handover Will Work Only If US Calls Off Strike -- RT

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Syria’s chemical arms handover will only work if the US and its allies renounce the use of force against Damascus.

"Certainly, this is all reasonable, it will function and will work out, only if the US and those who support it on this issue pledge to renounce the use of force, because it is difficult to make any country – Syria or any other country in the world – to unilaterally disarm if there is military action against it under consideration," President Putin said on Tuesday.

Putin said the disarmament of Syria’s chemical weapons had been extensively discussed by experts and politicians.

The Russian president said that he and President Barack Obama had “indeed discussed” such a possibility on the sidelines of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg last week.

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My Comment: Russia is also balking at the resolution that the U.S./U.K./and France have proposed to the U.N.. 

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Putin Won. Obama Lost

Putin Didn't Save Obama, He Beat Him -- Lee Smith, Weekly Standard

With the Russian proposal on Syrian chemical weapons, the United States is being escorted out of the Middle East.

Maybe Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin really did discuss the idea of putting Syrian chemical weapons under international control last week on the sidelines of the G20 conference. Putin sure doesn’t care that Obama’s taking credit for the proposal, or that the administration is posturing like a Mob enforcer. “The only reason why we are seeing this proposal,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney, “is because of the U.S. threat of military action.”

Right, Putin is laughing to himself. Whatever. If Obama wants to sell it like a Christmas miracle on Pennsylvania Avenue that’s fine with Putin, because Putin won.

Reset with Russia was originally a strategic priority for the Obama administration because it saw Moscow as the key to getting Iran to come to the negotiating table. Putin, from the White House’s perspective, was destined for the role of junior partner. Now Putin has turned “Reset” upside down. By helping Obama out of a jam with Syria, Putin has made himself the senior partner to whom the White House is now beholden. Accordingly, when Putin proposes the same sort of deal with Iran, with Russia having established its bona fides as an interlocutor for Syria, Obama is almost certain to jump at it.

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My Comment: Lee Smith's analysis is spot on .... and while I doubt that the U.S. will be completely escorted out of the Middle East .... it's position and influence has certainly been diminished.

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Russia Is Laughing At U.S. Policy On Syria

Syrian President Assad with Russian President Putin

Russian Parliament Gloats As Putin Checkmates Obama Over Syria -- Breitbart

Monday morning, Secretary of State John Kerry made what an administration official called a "major goof" with a never-going-to-happen hypothetical that suggested Syria could avoid American airstrikes by surrendering their chemical weapons. Even the State Department walked Kerry's statement back. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov immediately seized upon Kerry's flub, and now a member of the Russian parliament is gloating over Putin's checkmate of Obama.

Watching one administration bungle after another unfurl, Alexi Pushkov , the chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, is publicly mocking Obama. Via Twitter, Pushkov wrote that this mess “knocks the ground out from under Obama’s plans for a military strike.”

Kerry's flub played right into the Russians hands; and by breaking weak, stepping back from his own red line, and embracing Kerry's hypothetical proposal during a round-robin of network interviews Monday night, President Obama chose to repeat Kerry's mistake. Russian President Vladmir Putin now looks like the world's peacemaker and Syria can dig in and drag this out forever as the West tries to figure out how to secure and destroy a thousand tons of chemicals weapons without putting "boots on the ground" in the middle of a civil war.

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My Comment: Regular readers of this blog know that my nationality is Russian .... and I follow Russian news and commentary daily. Watching Russian and U.S. news yesterday and this morning made me feel that I was living in the twilight zone. The U.S. news media was praising President Obama on his evolving strategy on Syria .... i.e. forcing the Syrians to "give-up" their chemical weapons" ..... while the Russian press and their commentators were literally laughing at the White House and their ever-shifting and disorganized Syrian policy. This RT commentary best sums up this Russian mindset.

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In A Private Meeting Obama And Putin Discuss Syria And Other Issues For About 20 Minutes

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) walks past U.S. President Barack Obama (C) during a group photo at the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg September 6, 2013. VOA

Putin, Obama Hold Talks On Syria In Russia -- CNN

(CNN) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, held "constructive" talks Friday on Syria on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Russia.

The two leaders hold opposing views on whether military action should be taken against the Syrian government over its alleged use of chemical weapons on its own people.

Obama is seeking to rally domestic and international support for military strikes on Syria, while Putin -- a determined ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- has challenged the assertion that regime forces were behind the attacks. Syria's government blames rebel forces.

Obama said the two leaders had a "candid, constructive" conversation but acknowledged that Putin was unlikely to shift his position on military action against Syria.

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More News On Putin And Obama Holding Talks On Syria

Putin, Obama Discuss Syria at G20 Summit – Aide -- RIA Novosti
Obama, Putin Fail to Resolve Differences on Syria -- Voice of America
Syria: Putin And Obama No Closer To Agreement -- SKY News
Putin, Obama Leave G20 Talks With Unwavering Views on Syria – Putin -- RIA Novosti
Putin says still at odds with Obama on Syria after talks -- Global Post/AFP
Putin Says Bilateral Talks With Obama Yield Little On Syria -- Radio Free Europe
Putin Rebuffs Obama on Possible Syria Strike -- Voice of America
Putin Says Still at Odds with Obama after Bilateral Syria Talks, U.S. Leader Says Convincing Congress will be Tough -- Naharnet

My Comment: The differences are just too great .... and no one is willing to bend.

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America And Russia In Secret Syria Talks?

All eyes on them: The world's media watch as President Obama walks up to President Putin

Revealed: America And Russia In Secret Syria Talks As Moscow Warns Of Nuclear Catastrophe If US Launches Strikes At Assad's Uranium Reactor -- Daily Mail

* Secret discussions continue behind the scenes as Obama and Putin maintain their chilly exteriors
* Russia said on Wednesday that a military strike on Syria could have catastrophic effects if a missile hit a small reactor near Damascus
* Russia says it's compiled 100-page report blaming Syrian rebels for a chemical weapons attack
* Obama cancelled planned one-on-one talks with Putin in Moscow ahead of the G20 gathering
* Meeting of the leading world economies is being held in St. Petersburg this week
* Putin warned action against Syria without UN approval would be 'legitimizing aggression' and he called the U.S. liars
* Obama said the credibility of the international community was on the line
* China and emerging economic nations backed military restraint in Syria crisis
* European Union leaders said there was 'no military solution to the Syrian conflict'
* Pope Francis called on G20 leaders to 'lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution'
* David Cameron has arrived – already facing suggestions he has been sidelined after ruling out British involvement
* Today Russia is warning that a U.S. strike on Syria's atomic facilities might result in a nuclear catastrophe

With U.S. diplomats secretly talking with their Russian counterparts behind the scenes at the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg in hopes of avoiding a stalemate over Syria, publicly Moscow warned that a military strike on Syria could have catastrophic effects if a missile hit a small reactor near Damascus that contains radioactive uranium.

But a U.S. official attached to the United Nations delegation told MailOnline that while Obama's admission on Wednesday that U.S.-Russia relations have 'hit a wall,' the president's team is overreaching with an ambitious proposal that has no chance of success.

The talks started last week and are continuing both in Russia and New York, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly about bilateral diplomatic talks.

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My Comment: I am sure that both sides are talking behind closed doors. But the differences are great .... and with no personal relationship between the two men that can help in breaking any deadlock .... I doubt that an agreement will be reached.

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Why The Chill In U.S. - Russian Relations

3 Issues That Have Chilled U.S.-Russia Ties -- Michael Martinez, CNN

(CNN) -- Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin of Russia meet face-to-face this week after a long summer of antagonism.

Will the friction between them ease? Anyone fascinated by how power relationships evolve will be watching the two world leaders during this week's Group of 20 nations summit in Russia. Although the pair have no formal meetings scheduled, they likely will have opportunities to chat.

To say that the two men are at odds is putting it mildly.  

Edward Snowden: fugitive or refugee?

The Obama administration made former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden perhaps the most wanted man in the world. Snowden faces espionage charges after he admitted leaking top-secret details about U.S. surveillance programs.

The U.S.-Russia relationship became strained when Snowden was revealed to be hiding in a Moscow airport, where the Russian government allowed him to hole up in a transit zone for weeks.  

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My Comment: There are other issues at play. Missile defense, U.S. law targeting certain Russian lawmakers, Iran's nuclear program, what happened in Libya when Gaddafi (a Russian ally) was overthrown, U.S. support of Georgia, NATO expansion, no personal connection between the two leaders, etc..

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Putin Spokesman: US, Russia Need New ‘Reset’

US, Russia Need New ‘Reset’ – Putin Spokesman. © Photo Photo host agency/ Grigory Sysoev

US, Russia Need New ‘Reset’ – Putin Spokesman -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman suggested on Thursday that US-Russia relations, currently at their lowest ebb in years, needed a second “reset.”

The two nations’ bilateral ties are going through difficult times, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the Russian president, said in an interview Thursday with television channel Russia Today.

He added that the current relationship between the two world leaders “is not a desired result” of the original reset, announced in 2009. “Definitely we have to think about a kind of ‘reset’ before we open a new page,” he said.

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My Comment: This is Putin's press secretary .... so what he says needs to be listened to. Unfortunately .... rhetoric aside .... I doubt that there is any motivation in both Moscow and Washington to change the present state of affairs.

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Russian President Putin Warns President Obama That They Will Come To The Aid Of Syria If The U.S. Launches An Attack

Putin Warns Russia Could Come To Syria's Aid Over US Strike -- FOX News

As he touched down in St. Petersburg on Thursday morning, President Obama greeted his host Vladimir Putin with a handshake and a smile.

But the cordial greeting belies the tinderbox the two leaders are sitting on, as they posture and deliberate over a potential U.S. strike on Syria -- one of Russia's closest Mideast allies.

Putin escalated concerns about the fallout from any strike when he indicated in an interview published Wednesday that his country could send Syria and its neighbors in the region the components of a missile shield if the U.S. attacks.

U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified this week that the Russians might even replace any military assets the U.S. destroys in a strike.

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More News On Russian President Putin Warning President Obama That They Will Come To The Aid Of Syria If The U.S. Launches An Attack

'We have our plans': Vladimir Putin warns US against Syria military action -- The Guardian
Russia's President Putin warns US over Syria military action -- BBC
Will Putin sell missile defences to Iran? Russian President issues threat to route technology elsewhere if the West attacks Syria -- Daily Mail
Putin Warns West Against Attacking Syria Without Proof It Used Nerve Gas -- Wall Street Journal
Putin warns against 'illegal' military action in Syria, bypassing UNSC -- RT

My Comment: This is Russia's red line .... and they will act if it is crossed.

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Russian President Putin Comments On NSA Leaker Edard Snowden In An AP Interview

Putin Says Snowden Can Feel Safe In Russia -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin described the former U.S. intelligence contractor sought by Washington on espionage charges as a "strange guy" but said he could rest easy that he would not be handed over to U.S. authorities.

U.S. President Barack Obama withdrew from a bilateral summit with Putin last month after Moscow granted asylum to Edward Snowden who had leaked details of secret U.S. government surveillance programs.

"He is a strange guy," Putin said of Snowden in an interview with Russian state television and the Associated Press released on Wednesday. "I don't get what he is thinking."

"Basically he doomed himself to a pretty difficult life. What will he do next, I don't even imagine. But it's clear now that we won't give him away, he should feel safe here."

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More News On Russian President Putin Commenting On NSA Leaker Edard Snowden In An AP Interview

PUTIN: Snowden Is A 'Strange Guy' Who Is In For A Tough Life -- Business Insider/AFP
Putin Sees U.S. 'Lack of Professionalism' and 'Snobbery' in Snowden Affair -- The Moscow Times
Putin Admits Early Snowden Contact -- Wall Street Journal
Snowden contacted Russia while in Hong Kong, Putin says -- L.A. Times
Putin Admits Early Snowden Contact -- Wall Street Journal
Putin Says Snowden Was In Touch Before Coming To Russia -- Wall Street Journal
Vladimir Putin calls Edward Snowden a 'strange guy' -- Sydney Morning Herald
Vladimir Putin: Edward Snowden is ‘a strange guy’ -- Washington Times
Putin says Russia not to extradite Snowden to U.S. -- Xinhuanet

My Comment: I am not surprised by President Putin's admission that he has thought about Edward Snowden a lot. Putin is an ex-intelligence officer .... so he understands the culture in the intelligence community and why it must have been difficult for Edward Snowden to do what he did. I also suspect that President Obama has also thought of Edward Snowden a lot .... but for different reasons.

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Will There Be A U.S. - Russian Collision At This Week's G20?

Barack Obama And Vladimir Putin Set For Collision Over Syria At G20 Summit -- The Guardian

Russian president signals he will take action if America strikes at Assad as US counterpart admits relations have hit a wall

World leaders will gather in St Petersburg on Thursday for what has transformed into an international showdown with Vladimir Putin threatening to send a missile shield to Syria if the US launches an attack without the authority of the United Nations.

The G20 summit, hosted by Putin, had been expected to focus on the world economy and growth, but will now be dominated by the Middle East crisis, even if the formal agenda remains fixed on the slowdown of growth in emerging markets.

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More News On The Impact Of U.S. - Russian Differences On Syria At This Weeks G20 Summit

Syria dispute set to overshadow G20 talks on economy -- Reuters
Obama-Putin Rift Over Syria Strike Widens on Eve of G-20 Summit -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin set to face-off over Syria at G20 summit -- Belfast Telegraph
Obama to face questions at summit in Russia -- Boston.com/New York Times
Putin, Syria to test Obama in Russia -- Politico
Putin Sets Uncompromising Tone Ahead of G-20 Summit -- Time
Putin's contempt for Obama will drive the G20 summit -- Washington Times
Putin and Obama apart in more ways than one at G20 table -- The Guardian
On eve of G20, Putin set to make big push on Syria -- Christian Science Monitor
G20 Planners 'Tweak Seating Order' to Keep Obama, Putin Apart -- Voice of America
Differences on Syria crisis loom over G20 summit -- Bridget Kendall, BBC

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Russian President Putin Calls U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry A Liar On Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview Sept. 3; he said a Western attack on Syria in the absence of a U.N. resolution and of proof it used poison gas on its people would represent an aggression. Reuters

Putin Says Kerry Lied About Al Qaeda Role in Syria -- Wall Street Journal

MOSCOW—His rhetorical assault on U.S. policy in the region showing no signs of easing, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry of lying to Congress over the presence of militant group al Qaeda in Syria.

Mr. Putin said Mr. Kerry had lied by telling Congress that al Qaeda-linked forces don’t have a role in the fight against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

“They are lying, of course, in an ugly way. I watched the debates in Congress. A congressman asks Mr. Kerry: ‘Is al Qaeda there?’ He says: ‘No, we are telling you responsibly that they’re not,’” Mr. Putin said in televised remarks at a meeting with human rights activists Wednesday.

Mr. Putin appeared to be referring to an answer Mr. Kerry gave Tuesday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when he said the opposition had not been infiltrated and degraded by al Qaeda but was becoming more moderate and inclusive.

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More News On Russian President Putin Calling U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry A Liar On Syria

Russia’s Putin calls US Secretary of State Kerry a liar -- Washington Post/AP
Kerry 'Lied' on Al-Qaida Presence in Syria – Putin -- RIA Novosti
John Kerry lied, and he knows he was lying during US Congress debate – Vladimir Putin -- InSerbia
Vladimir Putin: John Kerry is telling a lie and he knows that this is a lie -- APA
Vlad Impales Kerry on Syria -- PJ Media
State Department fires back over Putin claims Kerry 'lied' about Syria -- FOX News

My Comment: Russian President Putin is right.

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Russian President Putin's Unleashes On The U.S. Over Syria In An AP Interview

Putin Warns U.S. Not To Strike Syria, Dismisses Case Against Assad As ‘Rumors’ -- Washington Post

MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned the United States and its allies against launching a unilateral military strike against Damascus, saying the West’s case against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

In an interview published Wednesday by the Associated Press, Putin said Russia is developing a plan of action in case the United States does attack Syria without United Nations approval, but he declined to go into specifics.

He said Russia — Syria’s most stalwart ally — has frozen the shipment of certain parts for S-300 anti-aircraft missiles that it had agreed to sell to Assad’s regime.

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More News On Russian President Putin's Comments On U.S. Policy Towards Syria

Putin Warns West Against Attacking Syria Without Proof It Used Nerve Gas -- Wall Street Journal/AP
Putin Says Proof of Chemical Arms Attack Is Not Enough to Justify U.S. Action -- New York Times
Russia’s Putin warns U.S. to wait, calls claim of Syrian chemical attack ‘absurd’ -- Washington Times
Russia's Putin warns US against 'aggression' in Syria without UN approval -- NBC
Putin: Russia might let U.N. OK strike against Syria -- CBS/AP
Putin May Support Syria Strike If Assad Guilt Proved -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Putin Does Not Rule Out UN-Backed Syria Strike with Evidence -- Voice of America
'We have our plans': Vladimir Putin warns US against Syria military action -- The Guardian
Putin presses US Congress over Syria, says Kerry lied -- Reuters
Putin 'Disappointed' By US Withdrawal from Talks with Russia -- Voice of America
US Wary in Courting Russian Support for Syria Strike – Experts -- RIA Novosti
Vladi­mir Putin’s ‘ludicrous’ stance on Syria’s chemical weapons -- Washington Post editorial
Breaking up is hard to do: the Obama-Putin relationship -- Jill Dougherty, CNN
Could Putin change his mind on action against Syria? -- Arthur Bright, Christian Science Monitor
10 interesting things Russia's Putin told the AP -- AP

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Russian President Putin Comments On Possible U.S. Action Against Syria

Russia's President Putin Warns US Over Syria Action -- BBC

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the US and its allies against taking one-sided action in Syria.

He said any military strikes without UN approval would be "an aggression".

US President Barack Obama has called for punitive action in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack.

Mr Putin said Russia did not rule out supporting a UN Security Council resolution authorising force, if it was proved "beyond doubt" that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons.

On Tuesday evening, members of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations agreed on a draft resolution backing the use of military force.

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More News On Russian President Putin Commenting On Possible U.S. Action Against Syria

Putin Warns West Against Attacking Syria Without Proof It Used Nerve Gas -- Wall Street Journal/AP
Putin warns West against Syria action as Russia sends missile cruiser to east Mediterranean -- National Post/AP
Putin warns U.S. not to strike Syria, dismisses case against Assad as ‘rumors’ -- Washington Post
Putin Says Proof of Chemical Arms Attack Not Enough to Justify U.S. Action -- New York Times
Putin May Support Syria Strike If Assad Weapons Guilt Proved -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Putin says Russia could support strike on Syria -- L.A. Times
Putin says could turn against Assad - if case proved -- Reuters
Could Putin change his mind on action against Syria? -- Arthur Bright, Christian Science Monitor

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