Posted on 08/31/2013 10:58:22 AM PDT by kronos77
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the American evidence that Syrian forces used chemical weapons, calling the suggestion "utter nonsense."
"While the Syrian army is on the offensive, saying that it is the Syrian government that used chemical weapons is utter nonsense," Putin told journalists in Vladivostok, according to Russia's Interfax news agency.
He urged the United States to present its evidence to the UN Security Council and cautioned President Obama about the consequences of getting involved.
Read: Still Undecided, Obama Favors 'Limited, Narrow' Act in Syria
"I would like to address Obama as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate: before using force in Syria, it would be good to think about future casualties," he said.
On Friday, the Obama administration published evidence it says proves the Syrian military was responsible for the attack near Damascus two weeks ago.
Read: President Obama, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Back on War Footing
Secretary of State John Kerry said the attack killed 1,492 people, including hundreds of children.
On Saturday, the US Ambassador in Moscow Michael McFaul presented that evidence to Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Rybakov.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Rybakov urged the United States not to use the incident to justify increasing military pressure on the Assad government.
The Map of Alleged Chemical Attacks in Syria
He said Russia would regard Western intervention as "a flagrant violation of international law."
Putin said he thinks the chemical attack was a "provocation" by Assad's opponents who wished to draw the United States and other powers into the conflict.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
What scares the living bejeezus out of me is Putin sends a half dozen of so Russian warships to sit off shore of Syria between Syria and the US Fleet. Just think what we might do if China parked 5 or 6 warships off the coast of Japan. Well, what we would do if we had a serious President.
I have to say, there are lots of times I wish somebody as smart as Putin was running this country. You may not agree with his politics and may think he is a hard-line Soviet-style Communist (I do not) but you cannot say he isn’t very, very sharp.
And if he WAS a hard-line Communist, would that be a positive or a negative change relative to Dear Leader?
I will vote fir Putin if he decides to run for the Presidency.
Putin! 2014!
Doesn’t matter what Putin thinks. Say NO to Obammy bombing Syria. Let our enemies kill each other.
u really believe what Putin says? I believe him as much as I believe Obama.
Russian Communists hate Putin.
Do I have to yoos the body”/s” sign everytime?
I’d still vote for Putin.
Take THAT, Lurch!!!
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