FOXNews.com: A Big 'NOT': US Rebukes Russia on Arming Syrians

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A Big 'NOT': US Rebukes Russia on Arming Syrians Jun 13th 2012, 16:36 The State Department on Wednesday unequivocally rejected Russia's accusation that the U.S. is arming the Syrian opposition, saying American support comes strictly in the form of "nonlethal" aid.  "We do NOT -- repeat NOT -- provide arms to anyone in Syria," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in an email to FoxNews.com.  The rapid-fire diplomatic battle between the two countries is quickly escalating as the U.S. tries to pressure Russia to pull back on its support for Syrian President Bashar Assad amid worsening violence inside Syria. Both U.N. and French officials are now describing that conflict as civil war.    Russia and the U.S. are effectively accusing each other of contributing to the violence.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday accused Russia of providing attack helicopters to Assad's regime.  On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended his country's aid, saying Russia is not violating any international law. And, according to an account from Reuters, Lavrov said: "They (the United States) are providing arms and weapons to the Syrian opposition that can be used in fighting against the Damascus government."  The State Department denied the charge.  Toner told FoxNews.com that the U.S. has been "crystal clear on this point." He said the U.S. provides $52 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people through various nongovernmental organizations like the Red Cross.  Toner said the U.S. provides some nonlethal assistance, like communications and medical equipment.  Clinton, in claiming that Russia was arming Assad, warned that the violence in the country could escalate "quite dramatically."  The latest reports out of Syria, according to state TV, say that Assad's forces have cleared out rebels from the Haffa region.  The developments have led some U.S. lawmakers to call on the Obama administration to get tougher on Russia.  Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that in light of Russia's alleged help in providing helicopters, "the Obama administration's string of concessions to Moscow must stop." She cited, among other things, Russia being allowed to host international talks over Iran's nuclear program.  "This is a replay of Moscow's providing weapons and assistance to Iran, which have enabled Tehran to repress the Iranian people and threaten its neighbors," she said in a statement regarding the Russian aid to Syria.  Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also has criticized the Pentagon for using a Russian firm to purchase helicopters for the Afghan Army -- even as Russia allegedly sends choppers to the Assad regime.  Cornyn wrote a letter Monday to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressing "grave concerns" about U.S. dealings with the firm that is "arming the Assad regime."

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