This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
US officials said "Putin spent considerable time pointing to what the Russians view as failed examples of political transition in Egypt and Libya as well as their concern that the West does not have a credible plan for what would happen to Syria's various battling factions and ethnic groups if Mr. Assad stepped down from power."At the same time, they didn't try "to paint the meeting between the men as full of bonhomie and good cheer."
Obama seeks regime change. He wants pro-Western puppet governance replacing Assad. He wants Sino-Russian regional influence weakened.
America accepts no global challengers. Putin stands fundamentally opposed. Irreconcilable differences follow. Resolving them remains distant.
In May, Putin cancelled plans to attend the Camp David G8 summit. He wasn't with other NATO states in Chicago. He delayed meeting with Obama until Monday.
He met earlier in June with other world leaders. Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Francois Hollande were prioritized. Chinese and Central Asian leaders followed.
Talks with Merkel focused on Syria and closer economic ties. She and Hollande support military intervention. The French leader openly favors it. Berlin wants Moscow's support for whatever America plans.
It's also Russia's second largest trading partner after China. It depends on 40% of its gas imports from Gazprom. It treads a delicate balance between growing Sino-Russian trade and longstanding US ties.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
