Clinton tells Syria's Assad to quit, leave country
(link corrected)

After meeting with Arab, Western FMs in Istanbul, US secretary of state calls ongoing violence in Syria "unconscionable"; reaffirms dedication to Annan plan, potential action through UN Security Council.

Russia Seeks Iranian Aid in Ushering Out Syria’s Assad

Russia is seeking to enlist Iran in efforts to engineer a political transition in Syria, a move that drew a hostile U.S. reaction even as the Obama administration seeks more pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The possibility of recruiting Iran, one of Assad’s main backers, to assist in efforts to end the violence and ease him out of power was floated as Kofi Annan, the architect of a failed United Nations April truce, prepared to address the UN today about ways to revive his moribund peace plan or pursue next steps.

The entry of Syria’s biggest backer, Shiite Muslim Iran, to a struggle that now pits a Sunni-led uprising against Assad’s Alawite minority would alienate the U.S. and Sunni Arab powers that are calling for more sweeping economic sanctions.

'It's possible Abbas is too weak to deliver the goods' says Obama

U.S. president tells Orthodox Union delegation: "I'm worried that the window of opportunity for reaching a peace agreement is closing" • PA president says two-state solution based on 1967 borders "may not stay on the table for a long time" • Rumsfeld warns Israel not to trust Obama administration on Iran.

'Koenig's Eye View from the White House' - June 8, 2012

Israel’s war strategies … Cyber-terror can lead to 'end of the world as we know it' ... Euro zone on the brink ... Germany has the key to the euro's short-term, is it worth the risk? … Is Bill Clinton attempting to sabotage Obama’s re-election efforts? ...Is Obama’s executive order giving up a large slice of U.S. economic and environmental sovereignty