President Obama, appearing on ABC's "This Week," said that Russia does not share the U.S.'s "values" when it comes to the Syria situation, but that both he and Vladmir wanted to avoid "chaos" in the region:
In the same interview, the president also vowed that his would not negotiate with congressional Republicans over the U.S. government's borrowing limit. He said: "I'm happy to have a conversation with [Speaker Boehner] about how we can deal with the so-called sequester, which is making across-the-board cuts on stuff that we shouldn't be cutting, while continuing tax breaks, for example, for companies that are not helping to grow the economy... What I haven't been willing to negotiate, and I will not negotiate, is on the debt ceiling":
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, appeared on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” and echoed the president's words in calling the Syria chemical weapons deal "a diplomatic breakthrough." Menendez noted, "“I also hope that we will pursue Assad for war crimes":
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Meanwhile Sen. John McCain, ever hawkish, appeared on "Meet the Press" to slam the Syria diplomatic agreement as an "act of provocative weakness" and claims that Russia is showing a "lack of seriousness":
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
And Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Mike Rogers joined McCain in embracing Cold War-era rhetoric to criticize the chemical weapons agreement on CNN's "State of the Nation." "This is a Russian plan for Russian interests," Rogers said:
Shares