US double standards towards Russia in the Middle East and elsewhere have resulted in an Islamist takeover : Congressman Dana Rohrabacher

Double standards, demonization of Russia made Middle East worse – US lawmaker

Published time: 4 Nov, 2015 23:18Edited time: 5 Nov, 2015 13:47

 

 

U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-Ca) © Shuji Kajiyama / Reuters

US double standards towards Russia and refusal to work with President Putin in the Middle East and elsewhere have resulted in an Islamist takeover in Libya and bloodshed in Syria, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) has told senior US diplomats.

 

“The double standard that we have been judging Russia with, and basing our policy on that double standard, has caused us great harm,” Rohrabacher said at a hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday morning. “Had we been working with the Russians all along in good faith, I believe the situation in the Middle East would have been totally different, and better, more stable.”

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Washington 'Hostility' to Cooperation With Russia Impedes Middle East Peace: US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher c... http://bit.ly/1RUxGYM 

2:09 PM - 4 Nov 2015

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Washington 'Hostility' to Cooperation With Russia Impedes Middle East Peace

US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher claims that Washington’s reluctance to work with Russia in Syria is preventing a peace process in the Middle East from moving forward.

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The California lawmaker took exception to Russia-bashing by his colleagues, as well as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland and her colleague Anne Patterson, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Nuland and Patterson were at the House committee hearing to brief lawmakers on US policies in the wake of Russia’s intervention in Syria against Islamic State militants.

Washington has accused Russia of bombing the US-backed “moderate rebels” rather than Islamic State targets. Moscow maintains the Russian air force is targeting all terrorists inside the country, including IS and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra. Patterson admitted that al-Nusra had “absorbed a number of what we would previously call the moderate opposition” during the hearing.




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