Joint Statement on Syria

[Tx4obama]

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 06, 2013

Joint Statement on Syria

The Leaders and Representatives of Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America made the following statement on the margins of the Group of 20 Nations Leader’s Meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia:

The international norm against the use of chemical weapons is longstanding and universal. The use of chemical weapons anywhere diminishes the security of people everywhere. Left unchallenged, it increases the risk of further use and proliferation of these weapons.

We condemn in the strongest terms the horrific chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus on August 21st that claimed the lives of so many men, women, and children. The evidence clearly points to the Syrian government being responsible for the attack, which is part of a pattern of chemical weapons use by the regime.

We call for a strong international response to this grave violation of the world’s rules and conscience that will send a clear message that this kind of atrocity can never be repeated. Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable.

Signatories have consistently supported a strong UN Security Council Resolution, given the Security Council's responsibilities to lead the international response, but recognize that the Council remains paralyzed as it has been for two and a half years. The world cannot wait for endless failed processes that can only lead to increased suffering in Syria and regional instability. We support efforts undertaken by the United States and other countries to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons.

We commit to supporting longer term international efforts, including through the United Nations, to address the enduring security challenge posed by Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles. Signatories have also called for the UN fact finding mission to present its results as soon as possible, and for the Security Council to act accordingly.

We condemn in the strongest terms all human rights violations in Syria on all sides. More than 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict, more than 2 million people have become refugees, and approximately 5 million are internally displaced. Recognizing that Syria’s conflict has no military solution, we reaffirm our commitment to seek a peaceful political settlement through full implementation of the 2012 Geneva Communique. We are committed to a political solution which will result in a united, inclusive and democratic Syria.

We have contributed generously to the latest United Nations (UN) and ICRC appeals for humanitarian assistance and will continue to provide support to address the growing humanitarian needs in Syria and their impact on regional countries. We welcome the contributions announced at the meeting of donor countries on the margins of the G20. We call upon all parties to allow humanitarian actors safe and unhindered access to those in need.

European signatories will continue to engage in promoting a common European position.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/06/joint-statement-syria

Note: The text above is from a .gov website therefore exempt from the four paragraph copyright rule.
Bolding of text above is mine.

[lumpy]

1. Good to read this. Everyone on DU should scan it. Thanks so much.

I hope that this declaration will settle some doubts in some peoples minds about what our allies are thinking about Syrian use of gas. Now if the UN will come through and take it on....now.

[Tx4obama]

4. For the UN to do something there has to be a 'unanimous' vote...

... and that is not going to happened as long as Russia/Putin are good buddies with Syria/Assad.

Russia is a voting member at the UN - so because of Russia (and China) the UN's hands are tied on the issue of Syria.

[leveymg]

2. Somehow, the fact that the US has retained part of its stockpile of VX nerve gas is overlooked here

not to mention that we are the only country to use nuclear weapons. Twice.

Our moral proclamations are built upon quick sand.

[Tx4obama]

8. The US stockpile is in the process of being eliminated, it will be fully gone in 2014

[kentuck]

10. Where do you get that info?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023588774

[warrant46]

29. They searched in the nether region

Urban Dictionary

nether regions

The area between a person's(male and female) legs; the crotch, the groin, the area where reproduction and the removal of bodily wastes occurs

[Tx4obama]

31. I read it on DU yesterday or the day before. Can't search for the link right this minute...

... off to dinner - be back later

[KoKo]

34. I might add..Napalm,Nuke of Japan, Agent Orange, White Phosphorus and Cluster Bombs..

Plus the DRONE BOMBS that come out of nowhere..and do collateral damage and don't always get the Target.

[lumpy]

3. Noticable that there has been little response to the post. You would think people on DU would be

interested in news from our allies re. Syria. Is it a continuation of denial.

[leveymg]

5. Noticable that there has been no rejoiner to the response offered, immediately above

Or, is your basis for supporting a war in Syria and the wider Mideast not predicated in some moralistic grounds?

Of course the Europeans will sign onto some sort of statement like the above, as it is completely nonbinding and appears to mouth the right platitudes and shows moral support for their major rogue superpower ally, the United States.

[leftstreet]

7. It doesn't really say anything

It's like those form letters you get in response to telling your Congressional reps you're pissed about something

[leveymg]

39. I used to write those letters. Very insightful.

[morningfog]

46. What denial?

The statement has been posted multiple times on DU. There is a dearth of a call to strike in it. It urges going through the UN. It does not provide a legal basis for a US strike.

[malthaussen]

6. Barely half of the gang of 20?

Isn't that interesting.

-- Mal

[Tx4obama]

15. Russia and China are good buddies with Assad - you didn't expect them to sign on did ya?

And Argentina and Brazil didn't sign most likely because they do not like us - so those two aren't a surprise.

That leaves four: Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa

[malthaussen]

19. No disagreement there, but...

... you have to apply the same reasoning to the "yea" votes. Most of those countries are our friends. So the question would be if any country voted on the merits.

-- Mal

[MNBrewer]

22. So it IS all about us, then...

[KoKo]

35. Is there something wrong with Russia and China being allies of Assad?

Please Explain.

[Cha]

9. Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United

States!

"We support efforts undertaken by the United States and other countries to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons."

Wow.. I didn't see this coming.

Thanks Tx

[Tx4obama]

16. AND - the United Kingdom

[Cha]

18. Sorry, I left out the United Kingdom!

[BlueStreak]

27. Excellent. Now what say we undertake the leadership based on who is closest to Syria?

By my reckoning that would make the list something like:

Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Italy
Korea
Spain
France
Japan
Australia

and then,
USA
Canada

I'll support this right after those 8 closer countries step to the front of the line.

Until then, it is just people chiming in from the peanut gallery.

This makes me hate the idea even more than before I read that statement.

[morningfog]

47. Efforts being going to the UN. They do not, in this statement support military action

outside a UN Resolution.

[rug]

11. Nowhere in there is there a joint call for military action.

[KoKo]

36. Are they going to send Fighter Jets in with the USA? Otherwise means nothing. n/t

[rug]

37. It doesn't event state they support solo U.S. miltary action.

[KoKo]

38. yeah...it's a "Statement of Support" (hoping USA will promise them "Treats"

for signing a statement.) So...how much more of my tax dollars go to bribing countries...along with spreading War and then picking up the tab...

[SomethingFishy]

12. You forgot Poland...

[BlueStreak]

13. If the words "Gulf of Tonkin" mean nothing to you, do yourself a favor

and learn about it.

[KittyWampus]

23. Google 1982 Massacre At Hama.

[BlueStreak]

30. How is that relevant? I was talking about false flag operations conducted by the USA

in order to drag this country into a war under false pretenses - a war we had no business being involved in.

[leveymg]

48. You can also google, "Long War of Terror." It's a long-running civil war and Jihad supported by

the Saudis and Iran. The whole thing goes back to the split within Islam 12 centuries ago between the Sunni and Shi'ia, and there have been many, many massacres on this scale or much greater, since it began. We aren't going to end this religious war, but we can most certainly put ourselves into the center of it, where both sides can try to kill us. No thanks, Ms. Wampus.

[whttevrr]

14. 11 out of 193 member states?

When there is a majority it will hold more weight.

[Tx4obama]

17. It's a statement from leaders at the G20. There were 20 leaders there - NOT 193.

G20 leader: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G20#Leaders

[whttevrr]

21. You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts.

The Leaders and Representatives of Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America made the following statement on the margins of the Group of 20 Nations Leader’s Meeting in Saint Petersburg, Russia

That's eleven.

[Cha]

24. And, from some pretty impressive countries, too. Countries that do not

want Assad to go unaccountable. Which apparently doesn't sit well with a few posters.

"We call for a strong international response to this grave violation of the world’s rules and conscience that will send a clear message that this kind of atrocity can never be repeated. Those who perpetrated these crimes must be held accountable."

[BlueStreak]

28. Impressive indeed. When shall I expect those countrieds to take the lead on this?

or are they just going to sit safely at a distance while urging the USA to do this?

Damned cowards. If they believe what they say, they should be in line before us. Other than Canada, they are all a hell of a lot closer to Syria than we are.

[whttevrr]

26. look it up, there are 193 member states in the UN.

Just because 11 countries out of 20 that are in the G20 make a statement it does not mean they speak for the whole world.

[Thinkingabout]

33. Tbis was the G20 meeting, not the UN.

[leveymg]

49. The only votes that really count are the 15 members of the UNSC, and that must be unanimous.

[Whisp]

20. Thanks, Tx4obama. K&R

[Owl]

25. So let someone else deal with it. We're broke and over-expended.

All the other clowns offer is rah-rah go get-em bullshit.

[deutsey]

32. Yeah, not long ago it was all about how we had to cut, cut, cut

here at home, but now we're all supposed to rally 'round funding this new military misadventure?

It's horrible what is going on in Syria (on all sides). But, I'm sorry, Afghanistan, Iraq, tax cuts for the wealthy, and the economic collapse here at home render military action there impossible.

Raise taxes on the wealthy as part of a more progressive tax structure, do something real about our collapsing infrastructure, take care of our children, our elderly, our vets first, and maybe I'll consider wasting more American lives and money on Syria.

I sincerely doubt that's going to happen, though. It's always us (the poor, workers, middle class) who have to make the sacrifices, whether it's with the lives of our troops, the education, healthcare, and welfare of our our people, or the public treasury.

[iamthebandfanman]

44. It was a lie then,

and a lie now.

we are not broke.



:p

[dixiegrrrrl]

52. Did you see where the Pentagon says it has $93 billion in its "war contingency fund"??

and promises this one will not cost us anything??

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023613421

[Dash87]

54. And Iraq was going to pay for itself through the oil there.

The Pentagon is truly the center of bull crap.

[deutsey]

56. The fact that they have that much in a war contingency fund

in addition to the other billions they get has already cost us plenty.

[iamthebandfanman]

43. LMAO. Glad to know the right wings

mantra has worked on you!

We are not broke. Nor were we before talk of getting involved in some capacity in Syria.

We have the money for domestic programs as well as a strike against the Syrian government.

WE ARE NOT BROKE.


http://werenotbrokemovie.com/



people around here are QUICK to use right wing talking points if it serves to further their own self righteous notions :p

btw , since when did liberals start to embrace the philosophy of 'ME FIRST ME FIRST ME FIRST' ??

[deutsey]

45. "We" are broke

"We" being working Americans after 30-40 years of stagnating wages and trickle-down golden showers from the wealthy.

I believe, as the movie you link to does, that we have money for domestic spending. It's currently all going into the coffers of the ruling elites, however, not to the people working two or three jobs to make ends meet or to those desperately searching for any job at all.

[bobduca]

53. War as Altruism

Up is down, Black is White,
Liberals must support Altruistic War Strikes.

[Cryptoad]

40. Thanks,,,,,,,

glad to see post with real data!

[sheshe2]

41. Thanks Tx. K&R

[iamthebandfanman]

42. but but but i saw some crazy guy eat a heart!!!!

and as we all know , that means assad is innocent of all the accusations made against him!

how dare those 'civilized' nations be pro heart eating!!!!!

[leveymg]

50. You want to march off the Syria? Grow a beard, and join al-Qaeda or another militia.

Be sure to write every day.

[devils chaplain]

51. I believe Assad, at least tacitly, ok'd this...

Yet I still am not convinced that the right course of action is to kick the middle east hornet's nest once again.

[RandiFan1290]

55. Et tu, Poland?

[dixiegrrrrl]

58. I commented elsewhere on this topic

of the similarities of "just one more country" Germany in 1939
and how we are slowly but surely doing the same..
Since 1990 we have had big and little wars 9 times ( twice in Iraq)
Most of them have not turned out well.

[scarletwoman]

57. You ought to have bolded *this* piece of text: "We are committed to a political solution"

I do not think dropping bombs qualifies as a "political solution".