So, quick refresher: Syria’s been tossing shells over their border with Turkey. Turkey’s been getting annoyed and firing back to let them know to knock it off. Turkey then authorized use of military force, paving the way to all out war if Syria doesn’t back down.
Syria hasn’t yet. Turkey then intercepted a plane coming from Moscow to Damascus when it was over Turkish airspace. They say they found military communications equipment and parts they suspect are for missiles inside. Russia denies this, says they’re legal.
All caught up? Good.
So now we’re getting involved. The Obama administration is accusing Russia of pursuing a “morally bankrupt” position with Syria in the aftermath of all this craziness.
Russia, for its part, says that what they’re doing is perfectly fine. They say they’re completely within international law and that Turkey should not be putting Russian citizens in danger, as there were seventeen civilians in the plane Turkey intercepted.
The US State Department’s said they’re worried about ongoing weapons trading with Russia and Syria, because it is a member of the United Nations with “presumed responsibility for global security.”
Russia says, “hey, we’re just following the letter of the law.”
Now the State Department has said that what they’re doing is only legal because China and Russia keep blocking sanctions against Syria.
Victoria Nuland, the spokeswoman for the State Department, says it’s “legally correct but the policy is still morally bankrupt.”
Earlier today protesters against Bashar al-Assad formed near Damascus and (what’s left of) Homs.
