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| Europe |
| Red Line! Obama warns Ukraine of 'consequences' if violence continues |
| 2014-02-20 |
[DAWN] US President Barack ObamaI've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go... on Wednesday warned of "consequences" over the violence in Ukraine and said the United States held the government responsible for ensuring that its people can protest "without fear of repression." At least 26 people, including 10 coppers, were killed in Kiev Tuesday after riot police entered Independence Square and battled government protesters who have occupied the square since November. The crisis erupted after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich spurned a broad trade deal with the European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... and accepted a $15 billion Russian bailout. The United States has said the Ukrainian government must pull back riot police from Independence Square in Kiev, call a truce and hold discussions with the opposition. Obama, who is in Mexico for a summit with Canadian and Mexican leaders, condemned the Ukrainian violence and said the United States is working with European nations as well as the Ukrainian government and the opposition. "We hold the Ukrainian government primarily responsible for making sure that it is dealing with peaceful protesters in an appropriate way, that the Ukrainian people are able to assemble and speak freely about their interests without fear of repression," Obama said during a visit to Mexico. "I want to be very clear as we work through these next several days in Ukraine that we're going to be watching closely and we expect the Ukrainian government to show restraint, to not resort to violence in dealing with peaceful protesters," he said. Obama added that the United States also expects protesters to remain peaceful in the wake of violence in Kiev that left at least 26 people dead. "We'll be monitoring very closely the situation, recognising that with our European partners and the international community, there will be consequences if people step over the line," the US leader said. "And that includes making sure the Ukrainian military does not step into what should be a set of issues that can be resolved by civilians." Earlier today, Ukrainian President Yanukovych replaced the head of the army's general staff after announcing a new "anti-terror" operation in response to the country's deadliest violence since its post-Soviet independence. The crackdown on anti-government protests by security forces on Tuesday triggered a storm of international condemnation, with the European Union convening urgent talks to mull possible sanctions. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 He uses the women's tees in golf? i.e. red tees. He's a bigger wussy than I thought. The red line in Syria pretty well identified what color panties he wears. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2014-02-20 21:11 |
| #10 Cue rimshot. And don't forget to try the veal. I'll be here all week. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-02-20 15:33 |
| #9 Cue rimshot. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2014-02-20 15:21 |
| #8 You want to stop what's happening in Ukraine? Then STOP CLOSING COAL PLANTS AND EXPORT NATURAL GAS INSTEAD OF MAKING PEOPLE USE IT TO REPLACE COAL. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2014-02-20 14:53 |
| #7 Just when you think the rest of the world can't see us in any lower status and light.... Obumble finds a way. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2014-02-20 14:18 |
| #6 Big Mouthed Fool, He thinks people actually listen to him blovate? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2014-02-20 12:04 |
| #5 The dreaded red tee markers. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-02-20 11:17 |
| #4 If he really wants to stop them he will write an Executive Order requiring the Ukraine to sign up for Obamacare if the fighting doesn't stop! That will freeze their souls with fear. Freezes mine |
| Posted by: Uneamble the Anonymous8013 2014-02-20 11:13 |
| #3 |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2014-02-20 10:12 |
| #2 Not another red line. Aesop's fable of the "Boy Who Cried Wolf" really is true. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-02-20 09:01 |
| #1 Meanwhile, not to be outdone by the Bammer's new "red line" agz Ukraine ... * BIGNEWSNETWORK > [Ya Libnan] IRAN SAYS IT WON'T SCRAP NUCLEAR FACILITIES. Nope, nada, not even one. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2014-02-20 01:32 |