In Rebuke, Obama Cancels Moscow Summit With Putin

[cali]

In a rare diplomatic rebuke, President Barack Obama on Wednesday canceled his Moscow summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The decision reflected both U.S. anger over Russia's harboring of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and growing frustration within the Obama administration over what it sees as Moscow's stubbornness on other key issues, including missile defense and human rights.

Obama will still attend the Group of 20 economic summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, but a top White House official said the president had no plans to hold one-on-one talks with Putin while there. Instead of visiting Putin in Moscow, the president will add a stop in Sweden to his early September travel itinerary.

Obama, who is traveling in California, said in an interview Tuesday that he was "disappointed" by Russia's move to grant Snowden asylum for one year. But he said the move also reflected the "underlying challenges" the U.S. faces in dealing with Moscow.

<snip>

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-cancels-meetings-putin-amid-tensions-19891634

[geek tragedy]

1. There are a lot of reasons to refuse to meet with Roose Bolton Putin.

Snowden would seem to be the most superficial.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. According to the WH Snowden is THE only important thing on earth

Not a mention of their anti gay laws. All about some former Booz employee that cheeses them off, not about jailing minorities for existing, that is apparently not worth a mention.

[geek tragedy]

3. Technically, if Obama refused to meet with leaders of countries whose national laws

discriminated against GLBT people, he'd have been unable to be in a room with himself prior to the SCOTUS decision on DOMA.

GLBT activists have shown themselves to be much more effective on that front than Captain Fierce.

Snubbing Putin over Snowden is petty, but it wouldn't be happening if the relationship weren't already troubled over human rights issues, Syria etc.

[Bluenorthwest]

8. All the more reason he should say something, he is years behind on amends for

all the horrific things he said and the vicious hate preacher surrogates he and his wife selected. A freaking word would not harm his precious image. He sure was quick with the Sanctity bullshit for years on end.
GLBT activists would prefer not to be left hanging without any support from the US leadership. The choices are not 'GLBT do all the work' or 'President leads'. Of course we are more effective but that in no way excuses the silence of our elected officials. The endless wailing about Snowden from WH and their fan base,in the face of actual real world issues, makes me sick.
'Fuck the arrest of gays, what matters is this guy Ed'.

[geek tragedy]

11. He did say something on Leno last night.

Q Well, something that shocked me about Russia — and I’m surprised this is not a huge story — suddenly, homosexuality is against the law. I mean, this seems like Germany: Let’s round up the Jews, let’s round up the gays, let’s round up the blacks. I mean, it starts with that. You round up people who you don’t
— I mean, why is not more of the world outraged at this?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’ve been very clear that when it comes to universal rights, when it comes to people’s basic freedoms, that whether you are discriminating on the basis of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, you are violating the basic morality that I think should transcend every country. And I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays or lesbians or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.

Now, what’s happening in Russia is not unique. When I traveled to Africa, there were some countries that are doing a lot of good things for their people, who we’re working with and helping on development issues, but in some cases have persecuted gays and lesbians. And it makes for some uncomfortable press conferences sometimes. But one of the things that I think is very important for me to speak out on is making sure that people are treated fairly and justly, because that’s what we stand for. And I believe that that’s a precept that’s not unique to America, that’s something that should apply everywhere. (Applause.)

Q Do you think it will affect the Olympics?

THE PRESIDENT: I think Putin and Russia have a big stake in making sure the Olympics work, and I think they understand that for most of the countries that participate in the Olympics, we wouldn’t tolerate gays and lesbians being treated differently. They’re athletes, they’re there to compete. And if Russia wants to uphold the Olympic spirit, then every judgment should be made on the track, or in the swimming pool, or on the balance beam, and people’s sexual orientation shouldn’t have anything to do with it. (Applause.)

GLBT activists have succeeded because they've shifted cultural attitudes--moving politicians is ancillary. YMMV but personally I'd rather have him saying this on Leno than in a Jay Carney press conference that virtually no one will watch.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Was he limited to one or the other, on Leno or in an official setting? Why not both?

And on TV chat shows, he should be less willing to state that LGBT citizens are not the same as 'the people'. He says African nations do good things for their people while oppressing LGBT people, who apparently are not 'their people'.
"there were some countries that are doing a lot of good things for their people, who we’re working with and helping on development issues, but in some cases have persecuted gays and lesbians."
So they do good things for their people but bad things for the non human gays ad lesbians? They do good things for some of their people? I think every nation that has committed genocide on A people have also done good things for those counted as 'their people'. Would he say this crap about a country persecuting Christians or Jews or blacks? No, never in a million years.

[millennialmax]

4. This is a diplomatic action. Those who stress diplomacy over military action...

should be happy about this.

[Harmony Blue]

5. Diplomacy requires dialogue

this action is what the Bush administration was known for (poor diplomacy).

[millennialmax]

6. We tried dialogue. Many calls were placed by many people over several weeks. eom

[Harmony Blue]

7. No they didn't

Diplomacy isn't about making absurd demands and then throwing a hissy fit when you don't obtain your way. That is what children do lol.

The DC betlway is in a bubble and they think they can call all the shots in the world but these powder puffs received a dose of reality when dealing with the rest of the world.

[millennialmax]

10. Asking Russia to return someone facing felony charges is not an absurd demand.

What would be absurd is if we released a statement saying:

"Aw, shucks. I guess you guys win this time. You still up for grabbing that burger and beer next month?"

[former9thward]

13. What Russian who defected to the U.S. has ever been returned?

Answer is none. Why should the Russians do differently?

[woo me with science]

9. +1 War is Peace.

Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.
Disconnection is Diplomacy.




Chained CPI is Superlative.
Drone murders are Legal, Ethical, and Wise.
Health Care is Affordable.
Austerity is a Grand Bargain.
Edward Snowden is the Traitor.
G.H.W. Bush made the world a Kinder and Gentler Place.
Spying on the Public is in the Public Interest.
America is not Spying on its Citizens.
Disconnection is Diplomacy.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Diplomatic strategy: When all else fails, stay in White House and sulk.

[darkangel218]

15. LMAO!!

[NCTraveler]

16. If this is true, sound like childish diplomacy.

The only real goal of an action like this would be to try to embarrass Putin. Have this in the papers for his people to see. I imagine they would get quite the rise out of it. After their fall in the cold war, it will show their people how far they have come. World leaders of major economies should be able to sit down and talk. Even if their are major differences.

[global1]

17. I'm Not So Sure That This Is The Right Thing To Do......

It seems like the beginnings of a new 'cold war'. I know calls were made to Russia and Putin and they still helped Snowden. It would seem to me that the best thing to do is to confront Putin face-to-face.

Cancelling this meeting just doesn't seem wise in the long run. What does it accomplish? At least with a face-to-face meeting there could be a chance that some meeting of minds could take place. Now that prospect is gone.

[The Link]

18. If you ain't with us....you're against us.