Putin stirs the pot on Syria

President Putin says if Syria signs the Chemical Weapons Convention, so should Israel.  Israel insists their government is willing to ratify the treaty, but only if nearby countries like Syria and Egypt do it first. But those countries say they need their chemical weapons in case Israel attacks.

Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor explains. "Unfortunately, while Israel signed the convention, other countries in the Middle East, including those that have used chemical weapons recently or in the past, or are believed to be working to improve their chemical capabilities, have failed to follow suit and have indicated that their position would remain unchanged, even if Israel ratifies the convention." He went on. "If things change, we would need to consider very carefully ratifying the treaty, but Syria alone isn't enough."

Israel has never admitted possessing either chemical or nuclear weapons.

Putin's response to President Obama's speech was cutting.  He wrote that it was "alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States." He went on "Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force."

Putin and the word "democracy" should never be used in the same sentence.  Someone should ask him about the all-girl band Pussy Riot who were sentenced to a two year prison term for calling on the Virgin Mary to banish him from office. 

Hatred of gays in action

And what about the new law that fines individuals and media groups if found guilty of providing homosexual propaganda to children under the age of 18. Although homosexuality was decriminalized in 1993, almost half the Russian population hate gays with a passion and beat them up regularly in the streets.  The Duma also approved a Bill that makes insulting a religious believer's beliefs a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of three years.

So Mr Putin should stop throwing stones and concentrate on doing what he's good at - pretending to be the great leader of the mighty so-called democratic country of Russia.