SYRIA - From the G8 Summit

Can you believe Putin's London statement?  Talk about painting one side as over-the-top evil.

"Fate of Syria, U.S. Aid to Rebels Dominates Attention at G-8 Summit" PBS Newshour 6/17/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  What to do about the bloody war in Syria is overshadowing the usual agenda of trade deals and unemployment at this year's G-8 summit in Ireland.  Gwen Ifill reports on conflict playing out during the conference around the United States' decision to send military aid to Syrian rebels.

GWEN IFILL (Newshour):  President Obama and Russian President Putin met privately on the sidelines of the meeting today in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.  Publicly, at least, the tone was conciliatory.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:  We do have differing perspectives on the problem, but we share an interest in reducing the violence, securing chemical weapons, and that we want to try to resolve the issue through political means if possible.

PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russia:  Of course, our opinions do not coincide.  But we are united by the common intention to end the violence, to stop the number of victims from increasing in Syria, and to resolve the problems by peaceful means.

GWEN IFILL:  But Putin was much more blunt in London yesterday, without President Obama at his side.  Criticizing any move to aid the rebels, he cited a notorious incident involving a rebel commander.

PRESIDENT PUTIN:  I believe one doesn't really need to support the people who not only kill their enemies, but open up their bodies, eat their intestines in front of the public gaze and cameras?  Are these the people you want to support?  Are they the ones you want to supply with weapons?