US Weighs Alliance with Iran to Counter ISIS, Boosts Presence in Gulf

FOX NEWS: The Obama administration reportedly is preparing to open direct talks with Iran on possibly cooperating to counter the Sunni militant force seizing large swaths of Iraq and threatening Baghdad, weighing an unlikely alliance in the face of a common foe.

Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday the administration was "open to discussions" with Tehran if they can help end the violence. He told Yahoo! News he would "not rule out anything that would be constructive."

The deliberations come as the U.S. moved more assets into the region. According to U.S. Navy officials, the USS Mesa Verde is moving into the Persian Gulf with about 500 Marines on board, to help in the event of an evacuation. » | FoxNews.com | Monday, June 16, 2014

Kerry Challenges NSA Leaker to 'Man Up'

May. 28, 2014 - 3:35 - Edward Snowden claims State Dept. trapped him in Russia

John Kerry Warns Israel Could Become 'Apartheid State'

John Kerry was speaking after Benjamin Netanyahu's
government suspended negotiations with the Palestinians

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: US secretary of state risks Israeli anger with warning that absence of peace deal with Palestinians could lead towards apartheid-style situation

Israel risks evolving into an apartheid state if it fails to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians to end the historic Jewish-Arab conflict, John Kerry, the US secretary of state has warned.

The highly inflammatory remarks, which seemed certain to provoke an angry reaction from Israeli leaders, followed last week's near collapse of American-brokered peace talks, which Mr Kerry has energetically promoted.

Speaking at a meeting of senior international figures last Friday, America's top diplomat said it was essential to pursue the two-state solution - commonly defined as Israel existing alongside a sovereign, independent Palestine - to avoid dire consequences. » |Robert Tait, Jerusalem | Monday, April 28, 2014

Venezuela: Maduro wirft den USA Umsturzpläne vor

Präsident Maduro: Anschuldigungen gegen US-Außenminister Kerry

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Der Ton zwischen Caracas und Washington verschärft sich. Venezuelas linker Staatschef Nicolás Maduro wirft der US-Regierung vor, gezielt seinen Sturz zu betreiben. Nun will er mehr Polizei gegen die regierungsfeindlichen Demonstranten einsetzen.

Caracas - Die Proteste gegen Präsident Nicolás Maduro dauern an. Jetzt will die venezolanische Regierung härter durchgreifen. Der Linksnationalist Maduro kündigte in Caracas eine höhere Polizeipräsenz in der Hauptstadt Caracas, San Cristóbal, dem Ausgangspunkt der Bewegung im Zentrum des Landes, und Valencia im Norden an. Dort waren am Mittwoch drei Menschen an Schussverletzungen gestorben: zwei Zivilisten und ein Nationalgardist. Es gehe darum, die Straßen von Barrikaden und Blockierern zu befreien, sagte der Staatschef. » | ler/AFP/dpa | Samstag, 15. März 2014

International Talks On Crimea Crisis

Mar. 14, 2014 - 5:45 - Geraldo on tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine

Frostige Stimmung zwischen Kerry und Lawrow

DIE WELT: Das Treffen der Außenminister in London macht deutlich, wie weit die Ansichten der USA und Russlands in der Krim-Krise auseinander liegen. Nicht einmal vor die Presse wollten sie gemeinsam treten.

Im Konflikt um die Zukunft der Halbinsel Krim bleibt Russland auf Konfrontationskurs. "Wir müssen das Ergebnis der Volksabstimmung respektieren", sagte der russische Außenminister Sergej Lawrow am Freitag nach einem mehrstündigen Gespräch mit seinem US-Kollegen John Kerry in London. Mit den USA habe man keine gemeinsame Sichtweise. Kerry bekräftigte die Meinung seiner eigenen Regierung sowie der EU: Das für Sonntag geplante Referendum sei nicht legitim, zumal sich die zu Ukraine gehörige Krim unter russischer Besatzung befinde. Sollte sich Präsident Wladimir Putin für die Annektierung der Krim entscheiden, werde dies "enorme Konsequenzen" haben. (+ Video) » | Von Sebastian Borger, London | Freitag, 14. März 2014

Crimée : la diplomatie échoue avant le référendum

Les six heures d'entretien entre le chef de la diplomatie russe
Sergueï Lavrov et son homologue américain John Kerry,
vendredi à Londres, n'ont rien donné.

LE FIGARO: La réunion de la «dernière chance» n'a pas permis de désamorcer la crise ukrainienne, avant le vote sur le rattachement de la péninsule à la Russie.

Barack Obama assurait vendredi croire encore à une solution diplomatique sur la crise en Ukraine. La fenêtre semblait pourtant se refermer après l'échec de six heures de discussions «de la dernière chance», à Londres, entre le secrétaire d'État américain John Kerry et le ministre russe des Affaires étrangères, Sergueï Lavrov, même si les deux hommes sont convenus de rester en contact. » | Par Florentin Collomp, Pierre Avril | vendredi 14 mars 2014

Russia and West on Collision Course over Ukraine as Talks Fail in London

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the US
secretary of state, John Kerry, in London.

THE GUARDIAN: John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov fail to reach agreement as Crimea prepares for referendum on joining Russia

The Ukraine crisis has entered a new and more dangerous phase after 11th-hour talks in London between the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, broke up without resolution.

The diplomatic failure sets Russia on a collision course with the west, with Moscow ordering further military deployments on Friday and a contentious referendum in Russian-dominated Crimea set to go ahead as planned on Sunday.

The referendum, which will almost certainly result in a vote in favour of breaking away from Ukraine and union with Russia, will trigger the imposition of sanctions by the west on Monday.

During five hours of talks, Kerry pushed Lavrov to postpone the referendum. He challenged him over sudden Russian troop movements along the Ukrainian border over the last few days. But Lavrov offered nothing in the way of a concession that would have helped reduce tensions.

At a press conference afterwards, the Russian foreign minister described the talks as productive, in that both sides were able to set out their positions, but the two sides did not share "a common vision". Looking for a way to emphasise his point, Lavrov sought an international parallel: Crimea meant more to Russia than the Falklands did to Britain. » | Ewen MacAskill and Alec Luhn in Moscow | Friday, March 14, 2014

Kerry and Lavrov in Last-ditch Ukraine Talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry has been meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in London. It is their last opportunity to talk, before a referendum is held in Ukraine's Crimea region - on whether it should become part of Russia. The US wants assurances that Russia would not annex Crimea. But Russia said it has the right to protect its compatriots in the whole of Ukraine.

Ukraine Crisis: Russia Warns US against 'Hasty' Sanctions

BBC: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned the US not to take "hasty and reckless steps" in response to the crisis in Ukraine's Crimea region.

In a phone call with his US counterpart John Kerry, Mr Lavrov said imposing sanctions on Moscow would harm the US.

Pro-Russian troops have been in control of Crimea for the last week.

Earlier, a stand-off involving pro-Russian soldiers at a Ukrainian military base outside Sevastopol reportedly ended without incident.

Crimea's parliament announced on Thursday it would hold a referendum on 16 March on whether to join Russia or remain part of Ukraine.

Russia's parliament has promised to support Crimea if it chooses to become part of Russia.

The vote has been denounced as "illegitimate" by the interim government in Kiev, which took power after President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia last month in the wake of mass protests against his government and deadly clashes with security forces.

In their telephone conversation on Friday, Mr Lavrov warned Mr Kerry against taking "hasty and unthought-through steps capable of causing harm to Russian-US relations", Russia's foreign ministry reports. (+ BBC video) » | Saturday, March 08, 2014

Kerry Tries to Get Russia to 'Play Nice'

Mar. 05, 2014 - 2:34 - James Rosen reports

Kerry Tells Russia 'One Doesn't Invade A Country On A Phony Pretext'

Talk of Russia sending troops has led to a sharp international response. US President Obama said Moscow was breaching international law and could end up isolated. Canada joined in by condemning Putin's military intervention. Both of them, plus Britain and France have decided to suspend preparations for the G8 Summit in Sochi. All this despite Moscow still not having decided whether to send troops. Gayane Chichyakyan has more on what was probably the strongest threat.

Kerry Threatens Sanctions If Russia Doesn't Withdraw from Ukraine

LOS ANGELES TIMES: WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State John F. Kerry, denouncing what he called Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an “incredible act of aggression,” said the United States is considering an array of economic sanctions to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to change course or to punish him if he refuses.

The decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to send troops to Crimea, a region of Ukraine, “is really a stunning willful choice by president Putin to invade another country,” said Kerry, speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” one of several Sunday morning public affairs shows on which he appeared.

Kerry and Republican members of Congress made clear the U.S. was not considering a military move to counter Putin’s action. On ABC’s “This Week” program Kerry said that “the hope of the U.S. and everybody in the world is not to see this escalate into a military confrontation.”

“Nobody wants this to spiral in a bad or a worse direction,” he said.

“The invasion of Crimea has already happened,” Kerry said. “And we believe that President Putin should make the decision to roll it back.” » | Joseph Tanfani | Sunday, March 02, 2014

Kerry Pays Tribute to Islam in Jakarta

John Kerry and Grand Imam Ali Mustafa Ya'qub at the grand
domed prayer hall at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia
on Sunday

THE TIMES OF ISRAEL: Secretary of state, bidding to help repair US-Muslim ties during southeast Asia swing, visits region’s largest mosque

JAKARTA — US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Southeast Asia’s largest mosque during his visit to Indonesia Sunday, paying tribute to Islam in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.

After removing his shoes outside the Istiqlal mosque in the heart of Jakarta, Kerry walked through the vast building accompanied by grand imam Kyai al-Hajj Ali Mustafa Yaqub.

Calling it an “extraordinary place”, the top US diplomat told Indonesian reporters: “I am very privileged to be here and I am grateful to the grand imam for allowing me to come.” » | AFP | Sunday, February 16, 2014

John Kerry Labelled 'Anti Semite' for Warning of Possible Boycott of Israel

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: US Secretary of State has been labelled an 'anti Semite' for warning of a possible economic boycott if Israel failed to reach a peace accord with the Palestinians

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, triggered an angry backlash from Israeli leaders on Sunday after warning Israel faces economic boycott if it failed to reach a peace accord with the Palestinians.

The uproar came as Mr Kerry held cordial talks with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif in Munich at which the pair vowed to intensify nuclear diplomacy.

Ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet accused Mr Kerry of effectively endorsing "anti-Semitic" efforts to impose sanctions on Israel by issuing the warning.

"The risks are very high for Israel," Mr Kerry told the conference. "People are talking about boycott. That will intensify in the case of failure.

"Do they want a failure that then begs whatever may come in the form of a response from disappointed Palestinians and the Arab community?"

While the US secretary of state's remarks were made against a backdrop of new EU regulations barring deals with Israeli businesses based in West Bank settlements, they provoked accusations that he was threatening Israel in on-going peace talks with the Palestinians. » | Robert Tait, Jerusalem | Sunday, February 02, 2014

Kerry: We Stand with the People of Ukraine

US Secretary of State says West backs protesters to have a say on the future of their country, to anger of Russia.

Related »

John Kerry Hits Back at Israeli Minister's 'Nobel Prize' Jibe

Moshe Ya'alon | John Kerry

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: US Secretary of State's spokesman calls remarks by Israel's defence minister 'offensive', if accurate

Tensions between Israel and America spilled into the open on Tuesday as the US angrily rejected the Israeli defence minister's claim that John Kerry is on a messianic quest for peace in the Middle East.

Moshe Yaalon, a hawkish Israeli cabinet minister, reportedly dismissed the US secretary of state's frenetic peacemaking efforts as outside meddling motivated by "an incomprehensible obsession and a sense of messianism".

"The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be," Mr Yaalon told US and Israeli officials, according to the Yediot Ahranot newspaper.

The former Israeli general reportedly said Mr Kerry "can't teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians" and disdainfully dismissed a US security proposal as "not worth the paper it was written on". » | Raf Sanchez, Washington, Inna Lazareva in Jerusalem | Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Related »

Israel: Ya'alon: Kerry Should Win His Nobel and Leave Us Alone

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon | Secretary of State John Kerry

YNET NEWS: Defense Minister says in private that US security plan 'not worth the paper it's written on', insists Kerry 'cannot teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians'.

While the United States is pushing hard for a final agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has expressed his great skepticism of these efforts, both in private conversations in Israel and in the US. In particular, Ya'alon has harsh words to say about Secretary of State John Kerry.

"Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) is alive and well thanks to us," Ya'alon said. "The moment we leave Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) he is finished. In reality, there have been no negotiations between us and the Palestinians for all these months – but rather between us and the Americans. The only thing that can 'save us' is for John Kerry to win a Nobel Prize and leave us in peace."

Ya'alon, who was IDF chief of staff from 2002-2005, at the height of the second intifada, also has little regard for the US-devised security provisions for a post-peace region.

"The American security plan presented to us is not worth the paper it's written on," Ya'alon said. "It contains no peace and no security. Only our continued presence in Judea and Samaria and the River Jordan will endure that Ben-Gurion Airport and Netanya don't become targets for rockets from every direction. American Secretary of State John Kerry, who turned up here determined and acting out of misplaced obsession and messianic fervor, cannot teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians." » | Shimon Shiffer | Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Persona non grata

YNET NEWS: Op-ed: After betraying Israel, can Kerry be trusted as 'loyal' mediator in peace talks with Palestinians?

The United States' status in the Middle East hasn't reached such a low in many years, so low that Secretary of State John Kerry has actually become a persona non grata in most of the region's countries. It's not just President Barack Obama's failed policy, which has turned the friends of the US into its enemies or made them fear it; it's also Kerry's personality.

He wouldn't dare travel to North African countries, for clear fear for his life. Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf see him as a concrete threat on the survival of the regimes and as the person who sold them to Iran. He made a five-minute stop in Egypt and escaped as fast as he could. The Turks are reluctant to talk to him after, as they believe, he sold them to Assad, whose own survival he himself agreed to just several days after defining him as "the new Hitler."

Kerry is a persona non grata among the Palestinians as well. Perhaps Kerry should go to the Gaza Strip, which he cares so much about? Or perhaps to Lebanon, or to Iraq? He spares his own life, but has no problem putting in danger the lives of Israelis, who according to his perception will be forced to spend their entire lives under the threat of Arab terror.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey – the three Muslim countries which were the iron axis of the American policy in the Middle East for decades – are furious with this man, who they see as unrealistic, delusional. Kerry promises that the Muslim countries will recognize Israel after a "peace agreement." Well, they are not [sic] longer willing to recognize him. » | Guy Bechor | Friday, November 22, 2013

Kerry Hails Saudi Leadership as He Bids to Repair Relations

U.S. Secretary of State meets with King Abdullah in Riyadh

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The US Secretary of State holds talks with King Abdullah and praises a disgruntled Saudi Arabia as a "senior player" in the region

John Kerry played down rifts with Saudi Arabia, saying relations between the two countries were "strategic and enduring" and that both agreed negotiations were the only way to stop Syria's civil war.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister, in Riyadh after talks with King Abdullah, Mr Kerry said: "This is a deep relationship and it has endured for 75 years and it will endure well into the future."

He also reiterated Washington would not let Iran develop an atomic bomb. "The United States will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. That policy has not changed."

The Saudis have complained that the United States did not follow through on its threat to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad with military strikes for his government's use of chemical weapons.

Last month, the Saudis won but turned down an elected seat on the UN Security Council, saying the body had proved itself largely meaningless because of its inability over two years to address the crisis in Syria. The Saudis also have watched with increasing nervousness as President Barack Obama has approved a cautious opening with their archrival Iran. Read on and comment » | Alex Spillius, and Agencies | Monday, November 04, 2013