And Russia has warned us to get out of the way. We are not in charge of the world. If the U.S., who has long taken the role of world police, isn't going to take the lead, then someone else will step in and do it. And Putin has the support of his parliament. But besides that, even our presence is being called illegal. So, hello kettle, meet pot.
Earlier Wednesday, the upper house of the Russian Parliament gave President Vladimir Putin approval to use the air force in Syria, state media reported.
"The Federation Council unanimously supported the President's request -- 162 votes in favor of granting permission," Kremlin Chief of Staff Sergey Ivanov said, according to state-run ITAR-Tass news agency.
Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko said that the Assad regime was the only legitimate force fighting ISIS, ITAR-Tass reported. It quoted her as saying that strikes by the U.S-led coalition violated international law as "interference into the territory of a sovereign state can only be carried out on authorization of U.N. Security Council or on request of official legitimate authorities."
Matviyenko's comments were echoed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, ITAR-Tass reported. "As a matter of fact Russia will be the sole country that will be carrying out that operation on the legitimate basis at the request of Syria's legitimate authorities," Peskov said.
Lavrov said Russia conducted airstrikes after a request from al-Assad.
Speaking at the start of the U.N. Security Council meeting to combat terrorism, Lavrov said: "On the 30th of September in response to a letter by the President of Syria, the President of Russia asked and received the consent of the Council of Federation for the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in the Syrian Arab Republic."
He continued: "We're referring here exclusively to the operation of the Russian air force to carry out strikes against ISIL positions in Syria. We have informed the authorities in the United States and other members of the coalition created by the Americans of this and are ready to forge standing channels of communication to ensure maximally effective fight against the terrorist groups."
Israeli officials said Russia had contacted Israeli defense officials prior to conducting its airstrike operation in Syria.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France had not received advance warning and he wanted to be sure Russia did not target opponents of the Assad regime or civilians.
"As far as the strikes themselves are concerned, we have to check that it really was Daesh and terrorist groups that really have been targeted and not opponents to the Syrian regime or the civilian population," Fabius told reporters, after giving a statement to the Security Council. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for ISIS. "I'm not accusing anybody of anything but we have to check the facts," he said.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
in one of the most incredible speeches have ever seen delivered, netanyahu spoke to the UN with passion and determination--and he spoke the truth--he's a man of great courage who sees clearly and KNOWS what the repercussions of the iran " deal " will be--if only we would listen--am ashamed of the waffling / bs / denials of this administration who would deliberately clear the way for an aggressor so publicly dedicated to the destruction of our staunchest ally in the middle east--disgusting indeed
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" the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. "--edmund burke
