Syrian Shoot-Down of Turkish Aircraft
Remarks
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DCJune 24, 2012
I spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu yesterday to convey our grave concern about the downing of a Turkish F-4 fighter jet by Syrian forces on June 22. I also told him that our thoughts and prayers are with the missing pilots and their loved ones. The Foreign Minister briefed me on the specifics of the incident, including that the Syrian military shot its plane down without warning. The United States condemns this brazen and unacceptable act in the strongest possible terms. It is yet another reflection of the Syrian authorities’ callous disregard for international norms, human life, and peace and security.
The United States reaffirms its strong support for the Turkish Government and its solidarity with the Turkish people in the wake of this incident. We will maintain close contact with Turkish officials as they continue to investigate the incident and determine Turkey’s response, including in the Security Council. We will work with Turkey and other partners to hold the Assad regime accountable.
Turkey has been a leader in the international community’s effort to address the Syrian regime’s violence against its own people. We will continue our close cooperation with Turkey as part of our broader efforts to promote a democratic transition in Syria. This work is urgent, and we will be consulting in New York with the Security Council, in Brussels with NATO and the EU, and in Geneva with Special Envoy Kofi Annan on next steps.
Still4Hill 
I know we heard some of this from politico awhile back but did anyone read this wapo article http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/little-america-infighting-on-obama-team-squandered-chance-for-peace-in-afghanistan/2012/06/24/gJQAbQMB0V_story.html?
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I just read it. It’s appalling! Holbrooke had no friends in the White House? Where was Samantha Power in all of this? She gave a warm, personal, anecdotal elegy at his memorial. Where was she?
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It is very appalling bunch of backstabbers.
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I read it, it’s very disheartening. Obama and his people didn’t like Holbrooke. If it hadn’t been for Hillary, Obama would have fired him. What a group of arrogant fools, staring with the head fool.
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And a formidable back it was! The blame lays at the top. Obama should not have permitted that. He can’t manage his White House. Leadership vacuum – that’s his legacy
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You are exactly right!. Im glad Hillary had Richard’s back, and called Obama out, I can imagine her saying you can fire him over my objections by Jim can’t Other words you want him gone have the guts to say it and don’t try and have someone who is not even over him try and fire him.
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Yes, exactly!
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Turkey is a major player in the region. Perhaps this will push some action against the Assad regime.
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I was thinking the same thing. Technically it’s an act of war. It can now be argued that it is no longer a civil war, and that Syria is a rogue state.
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Apparently, they were given no warning. I wonder if Syria has provided an explanation for why they’re just knocking planes out of the sky now. With any luck, the international community will begin to move on the situation in Syria with the urgency it warrants and not wait for the eventual, inevitable, American intervention.
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From this communique I expect this to come up in the Security Council tomorrow.
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I agree.
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Another Turkish aircraft was fired on as it searched for the pilots of that downed plane. This is getting more volatile by the day.
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[…] Hillary Clinton Condemns Syrian Downing of Turkish F-4 in the Strongest Possible Terms […]
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