Posted on 09/09/2013 1:46:08 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
The White House gave a cautious welcome on Monday to a Russian proposal for Syria to place its chemical weapons under international control, opening up the first real chance of a political settlement to the crisis since hundreds of civilians died in an attack on a Damascus suburb last month.
Russia's suggestion, made as a result of an apparent stumble by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, set off a diplomatic scramble in Washington as administration officials sought to assess whether it offered a way out for Barack Obama from what has become an increasingly intractable problem.
US deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken said "it would be terrific" if Syria followed through the proposal advance by the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, to put its chemical stockpiles under the control of international observers.
But he nevertheless expressed scepticism over whether it would do so. "Unfortunately, the track record to date does not inspire a lot of confidence," Blinken said.
The White House said it would work with the Russians to explore the deal, in discussions that would take place "in parallel" with continued efforts in Washington to persuade US lawmakers to authorise the use of military force against Syria.
A day of intense diplomatic activity began in London, where Kerry suggested that the only way for Syria to avoid the threat of a US attack would be for it to hand over all its chemical weapons within a week. The remarks were characterised as a blunder by some Washington commentators, and the Department of State at first attempted to play down their significance, saying Kerry had been speaking "rhetorically" about a situation that was unlikely to materialise.
But the comments were immediately seized on by Lavrov...
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I guess “kicking the can” is a plan...but how the Clown can reasonably claim it was his plan all along is anyone’s guess.
I s’pose the media will try and make it sound like that, and the morons who are already in his base (again, the media and his kooks who in his cult) will dutifully tag along.
Most folks, I believe are quickly tiring of him....albeit a few months too late.
And call me crazy, but I really don’t believe he won that election. ;-)
Countdown to the “Obama Avoids War Through Patient Yet Firm Diplomacy” headline.
Russia will not object to his attempts; these excuses can only fool the domestic audience. The international audience has already learned that the amateurs lost their case for war.
Russia does not need to kick Obama when he is down. There is no value in that. A weak US President and a cast of bumbling idiots that pretend to be his Cabinet are very convenient to have around.
Now Russia sends a handful of troops, they take control (?) of storage facilities, and now we have two facts: (a) the CWs of Syria are under "international control," and (b) there are Russian forces on Syrian territory - which allows Russia to do whatever it takes to protect them (and the weapons that they are guarding.) Naturally, the (b) also precludes any US strikes.
I’ve been thinking about this all night...It doesn’t make sense. Putin is very very quick to offer the INternational control of weapons IMMEDIATELY after Kerry’s faux Paux.
The administration at first says it’s rhetorical, but then pundits spin this to sound like Obama got the Russians to do this.
Let’s think this through. WHy would Putin make this offer, unless his intelligence was clear that Obama is using the chemical weapons as a pretext to bomb Syria and support the MB.
Now the ball is back in Obama’s court and there is no longer an issue. Game should be over, right?
WRONG. The Saudi’s, Obama etc want regime change in Syria. It’s not about dying babies and chemical weapons. It’s about regime change.
Boy, I would think Obama is fuming about this.
The Russians can spin this all they want.
BOTTOM LINE NOW IS THAT THE CONGRESS CANNOT BE DUPED INTO VOTING FOR BOMBING UNDER ANY CONTINGENCY. IN OTHER WORDS THIS SHOULD NOT CHANGE THE VOTE. BOEHNER SHOULD NOT CALL A VOTE ON THIS.
Obama has been checkmated by Putin for the 17th time!
Obama still thinks Putin is working with his “Reset” concept but instead, Putin is “pithing” Obama’s brain...
Anybody who takes whatever the Iranians, Russians,Syrians NORKS, Hizbollah say at face value, any pledges, any promises should just step down from office and go have his/her head examined.
A “promise” from Assad to turn over all his chemical weapons within a week? To the Russkies? Ha, ha, ha...
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