Washington: Taking a strong exception to Russian President's remarks on the US over Syria issue, the White House has said that it is not surprised by Vladimir Putin's words and that unlike Russia, America stands up for democratic values and human rights.
"As for the editorial, we're not surprised by President Putin's words. But the fact is that Russia offers a stark contrast that demonstrates why America is exceptional. "Unlike Russia, the United States stands up for democratic
values and human rights in our own country and around the world. And we believe that our global security is advanced when children cannot be gassed to death by a dictator," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said.
The US lawmaker took a strong exception to the statement by Putin in The New York Times, that it was wrong to say that the United States is an exceptional nation and that the US military strike on Syria would strengthen terrorists and
fundamentalist forces in the region.
"Both in his op-ed and in the statements and actions that we've seen from President Putin and his foreign minister, it is clear that Putin has invested his credibility in transferring Assad's chemical weapons to international control and ultimately destroying them," Carney said.
This is significant. Russia is Assad's patron and protector, and the world will note whether Russia can follow through on the commitments that it's made, he said.
"It is also worth noting that Russia is isolated and alone in blaming the opposition for the chemical weapons attack on August 21.
"There is no credible reporting and we have seen no credible reporting that the opposition has used chemical weapons in Syria, and we have been joined by now 34 countries in declaring that the Assad regime is responsible for the use
of chemical weapons on that night.
"Even Iran, which is fighting on Assad's behalf in Syria, has publicly blamed the Assad regime for the August 21 attack," he argued. Senator John McCain tweeted that Putin's op-ed is an insult to the intelligence of every American.
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, said Putin has made several points in his op-ed which is interesting. "I guess a lobbyist gets him that big space in The New
York Times, but when he talks about "he doesn't want the United Nations to turn into another League of Nations and not be effective," Pelosi said.
"I thought that was interesting, because one of the reasons the United Nations has not been effective, say for example in Syria, is because of the fear of a Russian veto," she said.
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