Obama, Erdogan Pledge To Keep Pressure on Assad — Voice of America President Barack Obama said Thursday that he and Turkish Prime Minister will continue to find ways to end the bloodshed in Syria. “We are going to keep increasing pressure on the {Syrian] regime,” Obama said in a White House Rose Garden news conference after late morning talks with Erdogan. Erdogan, an outspoken critic of the Syrian government he once supported, said there is “a strong cooperation that is ongoing” between Turkey and the U.S. “Syria was number one on our agenda today,” he said, adding that he talked with Obama about the flood of Syrian refugees into Turkey and alleged chemical weapon use in the Syrian conflict. Read more …. More News On Today’s Meeting Between President Obama And Turkey’s Prime Minister Erdogan Live Blog: Obama, Erdogan Hold Press Conference — Wall Street Journal Turkish prime minister, Obama discuss Syria’s civil war in White House meeting — Washington Post/AP US and Turkey agree on a Syria without Assad — Euronews Turkey, US agree ‘al-Assad should go for a free Syria’ — Hurriyet Daily News Obama and Erdogan meet as Syrian war rages — AFP Obama-Erdogan press conference: Free Syria from Assad’s tyranny — YNet News
U.S. President Barack Obama (R) reacts to rain starting to fall, as he and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hold a joint news conference in the White House Rose Garden in Washington, May 16, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed US Military Options Remain Open In Syria Crisis, Obama Says — Reuters WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said on Thursday he reserves the right to resort to a range of both diplomatic and military options if he receives conclusive proof that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had used chemical weapons in the country’s civil war. Obama, at a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, said there was evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria but that it is important to get “more specific information” to confirm that before deciding how to respond. Read more …. My Comment: I am still skeptical that the U.S. will do anything …. but this news story is raising some eyebrows (including mine) …. CIA chief ‘in surprise Israel trip over Syria’ .
Syria Conflict: BBC Shown ‘Signs Of Chemical Attack’ — BBC The BBC has been shown evidence apparently corroborating reports of a chemical attack in Syria last month. A BBC correspondent who visited the northern town of Saraqeb was told by eyewitnesses that government helicopters had dropped at least two devices containing poisonous gas. The government has vehemently denied claims it has used chemical agents. The US had warned that such a development would be a “red line” for possible intervention. President Barack Obama said he had seen evidence of chemical weapons being used in Syria – but it was important to get more specific information about what happened. Read more …. More News On The BBC Being Shown ‘Signs Of A Chemical Attack’ In Syria Syria crisis: ‘Strong evidence’ of chemical attacks, in Saraqeb — BBC How to investigate chemical weapons allegations — BBC Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile and human impact — BBC Syria gas attack claims: Evidence ‘compelling’, says expert — BBC ‘Signs of chemical attack’ in Syria — Times of Israel Witnesses: Syria used chemical weapons — UPI Syrians Allege Chemical Attack: ‘Suffocating Smell’ — Newser
Turkey PM And Obama Discuss Syria — Al Jazeera During talks in Washington, leaders vow to increase pressure on Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to step down. US President Barack Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have vowed to increase pressure on Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to step down. Obama said in a news conference with Erdogan at the White House on Thursday that the only way to resolve Syria’s two-year crisis was for Assad to hand over power to a transitional government. He said Turkey would play a critical role in that process. “We’re going to keep increasing the pressure on the Assad regime and working with the Syrian opposition,” Obama said. “We both agree that Assad needs to go.” Read more …. More News On Syria’s Civil War Syria Live Blog — Al Jazeera Syrian rebels launch offensive in south to reverse losses — Reuters Syrian troops repel rebel attack on Aleppo prison — AP Syria rebels, regime troops fight in Aleppo prison — AP Syrians ‘executed in cold blood’ by al-Qaeda group — The Telegraph Syrian rebels post grisly execution video — Times of Israel EU to block arming of Syrian rebels — The Telegraph Syrian rebels demand weapons before talks — Washington Post All sides in Syria have weapons ‘except the good guys’, says British official — The Guardian Vice and virtue police rule Syria rebel-held region — USA Today Jabhat al-Nusra faces al-Qaeda sanctions at UN under Anglo-French proposal — The Telegraph Israel Warns Syria of Action to Block Further Arms Transfers — Bloomberg Businessweek Israel warns Syria to stop sending arms to Hezbollah — Global Post/AFP Israel warns Assad not to retaliate to airstrikes — UPI Iran should take part in Syria conference: Russia — AFP Russia says Iran must take part in proposed Syria talks — Reuters Report: Iran told Nasrallah to prevent Assad downfall ‘at all costs’ — YNet News Syria crisis: number of refugees tops 1.5 million, says UN — The Guardian Syria erects earth mounds along border with Lebanon — Daily Star Obama says U.S. diplomatic, military options remain open in Syria crisis — Reuters Obama says U.S. won’t act alone on chemical weapons in Syria — L.A. Times Obama: More information needed on Syrian use of gas weapons — UPI Obama, Erdogan Press Syria’s Assad to Leave — Wall Street Journal Turkish prime minister is meeting with US president at the White House to discuss the two-year-conflict in Syria. — Al Jazeera UN resolution calls for Syria political transition — BBC Russia’s unhelpful role in Syria — Rudy Rubin, Miami herald/Philly News As global powers squirm in indecision over Syria, Assad’s hand improves — Zvi Bar’el, Haaretz Heart-eating video raises pressure to end Syrian war — Simon Tisdall, Special to CNN Gruesome Syria video pinpoints West’s dilemma — Jonathan Marcus, BBC Syria’s civil war: The hard men on both sides prevail — The Economist
Obama, Turkish Prime Minister Discuss How To End Civil War In Syria — CNN (CNN) — The leaders of Turkey and the United States are huddling in Washington on Thursday over how to handle the Syrian civil war, the raging conflict that has left an estimated 80,000 people dead and a few million displaced — despite more than two years of diplomacy to halt the bloodshed. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, meeting in Washington, discussed how to strengthen the Syrian opposition, help the many people displaced by the war, and mobilize the international community to put more pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and forge a political transition. Read more …. MIDDLE EAST EU to block arming of Syrian rebels. Syrian troops repel rebel attack on Aleppo prison. Islamist rebels execute 11 Syrian soldiers for “massacres”: video. Executed as they waited on a pavement kerb: Terrifying assassination video of three men by ‘Islamist rebels’ shows new front in Syrian propaganda war. Israel hints: We’ll strike Syria again. CIA chief ‘in surprise Israel trip over Syria’. Iran election: Rafsanjani defends decision to stand as his ‘national duty’. U.N. says there is hope for Yemen if funds are forthcoming. Turkey PM Erdogan confirms June visit to Gaza, West Bank. Israel to authorize four West Bank settler outposts. Bombers target markets, mosque in Iraq, 25 dead. Austrian Yemen hostage says feared execution: report. ASIA U.S. slams Japanese mayor’s sex-slave comments as ‘offensive’. Arctic Council grants China, Japan observer status. China threatens own trade action if EU opens telecoms case. Bomber in Afghanistan kills 15, including six Americans. China cracks down on North Korea. Cyclone Mahasen fizzles as it hits Bangladesh. Japanese politicians scramble to distance themselves from ‘comfort women’ comments. Before visit, China downplays frictions with India. Pakistan’s Sharif free to rule without unwieldy coalition. In China, European companies investing more than Americans . After India, now China catches gold bug. Kim Jong-un had ‘secret’ daughter. AFRICA Congo: 32 die in clash between army and militia. Joseph Kony and LRA in Sudan. France to keep 1,000 troops in Mali indefinitely. Warplanes, troops in NE Nigeria; mobile phones cut . Jets join offensive in northeast Nigeria, opinion split. UN envoy says CAR in ‘state of anarchy’. Mali offered more than €3bn in aid – with strings attached. Egypt ‘suffering worst economic crisis since 1930s’. Security forces kidnapped in Egypt’s Sinai. Tensions continue to escalate in Tunisia. UN ‘deeply concerned’ over Jonglei unrest. Miners union threatens strike at South Africa’s Amplats . EUROPE Russia economy minister sees GDP growth above 3% in 2nd half. Car burnings rise as France threatens to take euro crisis to ‘higher plane’ , says hedge fund boss Michael Hintze . Europe can survive without Britain, says François Hollande. Greek addicts turn to deadly sisha drug as economic crisis deepens. U.S. sought to recruit spies despite warning, Russia says . Expulsion of US embassy official in espionage case was second such incident, Russian TV says. Eurozone recession is now longest in currency bloc. Germany tells France and Italy to ‘just work harder’ to solve their economic woes. Cameron survives humbling EU revolt in parliament. Bulgaria’s leading party demands vote rerun after ‘violation’. Main party in Bulgaria seeks to void election result. Big business eyes Iceland’s Arctic treasures. Russian Orthodox and Polish Catholic churches sign reconciliation appeal. AMERICAS Evidence mounts on slower U.S. economic growth. Obama says “no apologies” over U.S. security leak probe. Obama picks temporary IRS head as Tea Party rallies on scandal . Obama fires IRS chief over ‘inexcusable’ tax targeting scandal . Republicans press for more documents on Benghazi, Dems say case closed . Dems say Benghazi emails show no cover-up, rally behind White House . White House releases Benghazi e-mails. Obama juggles scandals. Mexico official fired for daughter’s ‘abuse of power’. Canada PM on pipeline plan: Oil to come anyway . Plot to kill Colombian journalists uncovered. Venezuela hopes to wipe out toilet paper shortage by importing 50m rolls. Argentina brokers 24 pct wage hikes for millions. TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR Congress rethinks 9/11 law on military force; Pentagon officials say it ‘serves its purpose’ . Jabhat al-Nusra faces al-Qaeda sanctions at UN under Anglo-French proposal. Al Qaeda websites hacked. Report: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev confessed to the Boston bombings in a note. Bin Laden son-in-law: Warning issued by NY judge. ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS Buffett’s Berkshire downgraded by S&P with negative outlook. International Monetary Fund warns on quantitative easing costs . UK lawmakers find Google misleading on tax. Google launches streaming music service ahead of Apple. Largest diamond ever sold at auction.