Syria, US Trade Allegations Over Ambassadors
US Envoy's Visit to Hama Seen as Provocative
Tensions between the Obama Administration and Syria’s Assad regime seem to be on the rise tonight, with both nations condemning one another’s ambassadors, accusing them of untoward behavior in a time of unrest.
For Syria, this centered around the US Ambassador’s visit to Hama, a city which has been the site of massive protests and violence crackdowns in recent days. The government accused the ambassador of inciting violence with the visit.
Which was angrily condemned by the US State Department, which termed the claim “absolute rubbish.” The visit was clearly aimed at riling up protests, however, and seemed quite successful in drawing a massive crowd.
At the same time, the Syrian Ambassador to the United States was summoned by the Obama Administration over allegations that his aides were filming public protesters in the US, which they termed an effort to “intimidate” them.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- No Deal: US Restarted Pakistan Drone Strikes Despite Objections - February 22nd, 2012
- Syrian National Council Demands Foreign Invasion - February 22nd, 2012
- State Dept.: Pakistani Taliban 'Not Welcome' at Truce Talks - February 22nd, 2012
- Israeli FM: Our Decision to Attack Iran None of US, Russia's Business - February 22nd, 2012
- Hunger Strike Ends, but Adnan's Detention Without Charges Doesn't - February 22nd, 2012
TheDailySketch
July 9th, 2011 at 1:46 am
As if the US government doesn' film protestors itself. What blatant hypocrisy. In the March 2003 demonstrations throughout the world afgainst the US war of aggression on Iraq, I went to the US base at Moron near Seville, Spain with hundreds of other demonstrators. Someone came out of the base with a video camera and walked among all the demonstrators filming everyone's face.
JDonald
July 9th, 2011 at 6:52 am
Did the US ambassador to Bahrain, visit the sites of their protesters and prostestations to show support and solidarity with those demanding representation in the Bahrain Sunni government? Would the USA please get its international policy act together? Shouldn't we have matured well beyond the "good guy", "bad guy" method for imposing our international policies?