Reuters: France's Hollande, in Moscow, urges grand coalition against Islamic State
French President Francois Hollande told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday world powers must create a "grand coalition" to combat Islamic State militants who control swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq.
Hollande is on a diplomatic offensive to build a common front against the militant Islamist group that has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 that killed 130 people.
Islamic State has also said it downed a Russian plane on Oct. 31 over the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, killing all 224 people on board.
"Our enemy is Daesh, Islamic State, it has territory, an army and resources, so we must create this large coalition to hit these terrorists," Hollande said in televised remarks at the start of bilateral talks with the Russian leader in the Kremlin.
More News On France And Russia Agreeing To Coordinate Military Operations Against The Islamic State
Putin tells Hollande 'ready for cooperation' in terrorism fight -- AFP
Russia ‘prepared to work with you,’ Putin tells Hollande -- Washington Post
Hollande and Putin agree on closer anti-Islamic State coordination -- L.A. Times
Hollande, Putin Meet to Discuss Strategy Against Islamic State -- WSJ
Russia Ready to Join France in Fight Against Terror, Putin Says After Meeting Hollande -- ABC News
Russia And France To Co-ordinate IS Strikes -- SKY News
Putin and Hollande agree on greater cooperation over Syrian air strikes -- Euronews
Putin Agrees To Cooperate With France’s Call For Coordinated Fight Against Terrorism -- IBTimes
France, Russia agree to exchange intelligence -- Reuters
Hollande in Moscow: A new era in Russian-French relations? -- Hugh Schofield, BBC
Now that's a photo.
ReplyDeleteWNU,
ReplyDeleteI just noticed something. Beside Putin there is an attache case. I don't ever remember a photo with one in it near him.
You are right. The only one who ever has a briefcase near him is the person who is carrying his "nuclear football".
ReplyDeleteWNU,
ReplyDeleteI had a good guess of what it was, it's just I've never seen it with him in an official photo. You know as well as I do, "things don't just happen by accident".
Putin's got codes in different area codes....nuclear swagger!
ReplyDeleteI have seen videos and photos of Putin's nuclear football .... but you are right, nothing happens by accident, and definitely not in Moscow. That's why the Boris Nemtsov murder shocked everyone (and probably Putin himself) .... and still bothers many today .... no one expected that.
ReplyDeleteWNU,
ReplyDeleteI know I'm belaboring the point, but it's important to me, but can you remember if what you saw before were official releases?
I have never seen an official release of the "Russian football" being near the Russian President. When there was a photo or video, it was because of a chaotic situation like this one. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2299961/Putins-armed-bodyguards-fight-security-summit-South-Africa-told-nuclear-suitcase-X-ray.html
ReplyDeleteWhen I met Russian President Medvedev at a ceremony outside of Moscow a number of years back .... aside from the security detail I did see the man with the briefcase. I sometimes wonder if he had more protection than Medvedev.
I forgot to mention .... no pictures were allowed. Grrr.....
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzOje1Jw7WE
ReplyDeleteJames, at the 42 second mark.
WNU,
ReplyDeleteGot it, thanks. There were two of them. O/T I don't think the Russians will forget about this little dust up either.
Right now I am seeing and hearing contradictory messages. On one hand it's all about "working together", "cooperation", "de-escalation" etc. and so on but on the other, shot down plane, gun running to radicals, increasing deployment of forces, aggressive maneuvers and posture (the "football"), and really nasty glares!
ReplyDeleteWhere I come from action speaks louder than words. The potential for a straight up fight is. escalating--despite pronoucements otherwise. It reminds me of passive aggressive practical jokes at work. Grease on a stearing wheel replied to by spray foam in lunch pail, replied to with sand in tool box, followed by racoon in locker, ending up with fist fight in parking lot. Games can be fun until they're not games anymore.
And there's no way Putin trusts Hollande.
DeleteNo way.