U.S. revises Syrian helicopter statements U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the media as Susan Rice, United Nations ambassador for the U.S, listens following the Security Council meeting held to discuss the Arab League's peace plan for Syria at the UN on January 31, 2012 in New York City. The proposed plan calls for the transfer of power from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to his deputy and for free elections to be held. WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department revised its condemnation of Russian attack helicopters deployed in Syria after it emerged they were refurbished vehicles. Executives at Russian arms trader Rosoboronexport said its existing contracts with the Syrian military didn't violate international laws. Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, criticized the French government for letting the company take part in an arms expo in Paris. Victoria Nuland, a State Department spokeswoman, revised the U.S. position during her regular press briefing. These are helicopters that have been out of the fight for some six months or longer. They are freshly refurbished," she said. The question is simply what one expects them to be used for when one sees what the current fleet's being used for. The crisis in Syria is showing signs of civil war and the government there is suspected of committing war crimes. Damascus maintains its dealing with domestic terrorists.