Puzzle Solved, Lesson Concluded
"Are we Syrians supposed to wait until mid-2014, to continue being killed every day and to accept it just because the chemical arms will be destroyed in 2014?"The truth is there, you just have to probe around for it, delicately, with the kind of surgical dental probe used by a dental technician who wields it carefully, lest a yelp of pain emanate from the mouth of the unfortunate seated in that dental chair. In the case of most Western sources that yelp of pain emanates from those who see the Obama administration's folding of responsibility on the Syria file to Russian manoeuvring as a surrender to moral dominance.
General Selim Idriss, commander, Free Syrian Army high command
"This is a Russian plan for Russian interests. And we should be very, very concerned. We've given up every ounce of our leverage."
"Mike Rogers, Republican chairman, House Intelligence Committee
"It's a loser because I think it gave Russia a position in the Middle East which they haven't had since the Seventies."
Senator John McCain
"The threat of force is real, and the Assad regime and all those taking part need to understand that President Obama and the United States are committed to achieve this goal."
American Secretary of State John Kerry
But, such is life.
And President Obama defends himself against all the naysayers who prefer war to peace, by reminding his detractors that peace is always preferable to war. We know this in any event, because the world was recently lectured on that very same topic by none other than Russian President Vladimir Putin. And he, most certainly should know. So it's very revealing that he is finally placing himself on the side of the angels. For the time being, in any event.
The United States, President Obama chided those who sit fuming in the background is no longer in a "cold war" with Russia. Diplomacy had presented "a foundation" leading to a political settlement of the Syrian conflict. For which he welcomed President Vladimir Putin's "involvement" in Syria.
"I welcome him saying 'I will take responsibility for pushing my client, the Assad regime, to deal with these chemical weapons", said he.
Wink-wink.
So Mr. Assad has a week to list his chemical weapons. He can always use the list that was on file before he gave orders to lift and disperse them, to safety in Iraq, to helpful distribution to Hezbollah for their own weapons caches, and to smaller caches within Syria where their numbers would most certainly lead to confusion and lack of detection if some of them are handily overlooked by UN inspectors who will be, in a sense, groping about in the dark of misinformation.
Destroying those weapons that will be uncovered, whether it be done in Syria or somewhere else, is said to represent an ambition that will take roughly a year. Nothing to it. The inspectors will do their business, thousands of military personnel will be deployed, the billions it will take to destroy whatever can be found will be spent, and conventional weapons in the able hands of Hezbollah, Republican Guard helpers and the Syrian military will go on to do their wartime duty.
The Kremlin is feeling pretty good about itself. Lauding its indefatigable President, a credit to the country, to be sure. Russian officials are complacent about their new very distinguished and growing reputation as peace-makers in this new world of double-vision and head-spinning change. Thanks to Vladimir Putin's timely intervention, a "mistake the size of Suez" has been prevented. "Vladimir Putin, really, deserves the Nobel Peace Prize", one ventured fondly.
No sooner said than done.
Labels: Chemical Weapons, Conflict, Russia, Syria, United States
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, September 17, 2013
<< Home