Russia stares down the West on Syria

The Hindu ^ | 3/29/2012 | Vladimir Radyuhin

[U-238]

If one needed a textbook example of how propaganda can help turn defeat into victory then one should look at Western media coverage of recent diplomatic battles on Syria.

Everybody agrees that the so-called “presidential statement” on Syria the U.N. Security Council adopted on March 21 was a turning point in efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis. It marked the first time the Security Council (SC) had reached an agreement on Syria and endorsed a peace plan proposed by U.N. and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. The surprise consensus in the Council, which was earlier riven by divisions, raised the question of who had made concessions — Western powers or Russia and China, who had vetoed two West-backed SC resolutions.

To believe Western news outlets it is Russia and China that blinked first.

Christian Science Monitor saw Russia's support for the SC statement as a “distinct shift” in Moscow's stance. Radio Free Europe said Moscow had “finally relented,” while the Economist categorically declared: “Russia shifted firmly to the side of Al Assad's detractors.”

The text of the SC statement, however, shows that it is the West that embraced the Russian stand.

First, the statement did not mention the West's earlier demand for Mr. Assad to step down. (The February SC draft did not openly call on Mr. Assad to leave but voiced support for the Arab League's plan, which explicitly demanded his resignation as a precondition for political settlement in Syria.)

Second, the Western powers for the first time endorsed the Russian view that the opposition in Syria should talk to the government. The SC statement said that the Syrian crisis should be resolved through “a comprehensive political dialogue between the Syrian government and the whole spectrum of the Syrian opposition.”

[Navy Patriot]

Little wonder Putin, Medvedev, and the rest of the Russian state officials ringingly endorse Obama, he is the perfect “leader” for America for their purposes.

[Sivad]

Dear Vlad

If you like our Syria kowtow job just wait
until I get re-elected when I can really be
flexible.

Your Obedient Servant,
Barack

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks U-238.

If one needed a textbook example of how propaganda can help turn defeat into victory then one should look at Western media coverage of recent diplomatic battles on Syria.

Just check out the "Assad is better than Christian genocide" agitprop, even here on FR.

Russia's putting up a fight over Syria (two steps forward) in order to protect as best it can its sole remaining viable Mideast ally, Iran -- the compromise (one step back) will be when they bail on Assad. Assad knows this move is bound to come, and therefore expect a dramatic move in the next month or so.

If he doesn't make one, Iran will -- Syria is Iran's sole remaining reliable Mideast ally, and as goes Syria, so goes Iraq, which is merely a buffer state now.