1,000 children have been killed in the Syrian violence, but if we can get the US government to act in the next 24 hours, we could stop the flow of weapons to the regime and end these massacres.
The Pentagon recently signed a $1 billion contract with the same company that supplies weapons to the deadly Syrian military. The US can cancel the contract at any time. The US has already persuaded the company to stop light weapons sales to Syria. Right now, the US and the Russian company are in Paris -- if we can build up the pressure on our government to speak out, Rosoboronexport could be forced to cut Syria's arms supply completely.
Click here to sign the urgent petition to the government to get Russia to stop dealing death to Syria and tell everyone -- our call will be delivered to the delegates tomorrow at the arms fair in Paris:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_syrias_death_dealer_us_b/?tta
International political solutions are failing to stop the bloodshed in Syria -- the world was stunned by the brutal al-Houla massacre where 49 children were executed, and last week there was another mass killing. Why? Assad is protected by his old friend Russia, which has blocked international action while profiting in arms sales -- Rosoboronexport is Russia's biggest arms dealer bringing the government billions in revenue per year. President Assad is only clinging to power through military might and sowing fear. If the US can convince Russia that supporting the Syrian regime is not worth it, and end arms sales to Assad, his killing arsenal will wane and his command will slip away.
The US has led efforts to stop the violence, and a group of US Senators is right now calling on the Pentagon to cancel a massive helicopter contract with Rosoboronexport. If they get massive public support to push this through, the US pressure on Russia will grow and Russia would reconsider weapons and sales and suppprt for the regime. Rosoboronexport could be held legally responsible for war crimes for sending weapons to the Syrian regime, but due to huge profits they continue their bloody business as usual. Diplomatic pressure is mounting on Russia right now, but it is this financial threat that could be the deciding card. We have to act now and make sure the US speaks out this week in Paris. Click to call our government to stop Russia’s deadly deals now and forward to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_syrias_death_dealer_us_b/?tta
Over the past year, Avaaz members have supported the Syrian Spring and an end to the violence -- we have broken the blackout, exposed hidden atrocities and provided critical lifelines to Syrians under siege. Now, let's do all we can to cut off the weapons at the source that are killing the Syrian people.
With hope and determination,
Alice, Joseph, Denis, Luca, Emma, Ricken, Stephanie, Wissam, Dalia and the entire Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
The Pentagon's Dirty Deal (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-andrews/syria-weapons_b_1545477.html
Pentagon is OK with Buying Helos from Putin’s Favorite Arms Dealer (Wired)
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/05/pentagon-rosoboronexport/#more-80270
Isolate Syria’s Arms Suppliers (Human Rights Watch)
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/03/isolate-syria-s-arms-suppliers
Russia Said To Halt Syrian Arms Supplies After U.S. Pressure (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/russia-said-to-halt-some-syrian-arms-supplies-as-fighting-ebbs.html
Houla Massacre: Russia's Tipping Point On Syria? (Reuters)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/30/houla-massacre-russias-ti_n_1556394.html
Troubling Rosoboronexport Contract Examination Mandated by New NDAA Provision (Human Rights First)
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/05/29/troubling-rosoboronexport-contract-examination-mandated-by-news-ndaa-provision
Syria army stockpiling Russian arms, report says (AP)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/03/19/syria-weapons-fighting.html
Eurosatory Arms Fair. Paris June 11-15.
http://www.eurosatory.com
"If history is violence and sex, I'd rather not pay my respects. If I've caused offense, I'm just trying to talk sense. Forgive me if I'm too direct or politically incorrect."
Jon Foreman
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