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What the Russians want is more influence in the Mideast, and less American influence. Plus a valuable sea base for their navy in the Mediterranean. Assad's their guy.
So, understanding Obama was in a bind and struggling to get an OK from congress, and picking up on Kerry's sarcastic remark that the only thing that would stop an American punitive strike would be if Syria turned over ALL it's chemical weapons to the international community -- which Kerry, obviously, never dreamed Assad would actually do -- Putin took the spotlight and said Russia would take all of Syria's chem weapons, with international community witnesses to assure the deed was done.
Thus Putin (who used to be head of the Soviet KGB) both kicked and saved Obama's ass; as Obama leaped at the opportunity to get out of the corner he had put himself in.
The deal, of course, won't in the least hinder Assad's ability to stay in power -- particularly when it is beginning to appear ever more clearly that it was the rebels who effected the Sarin nerve gas attack. Obama's critics in congress who have viewed both the unclassified and classified "evidence" Obama's team put together say that there was absolutely no real evidence linking Assad or his regime to the gas attack -- our intel, once again (remember Iraq?), is totally speculative and based on hunches.
What do we get? We get to shut down a new war before it started, and Obama will take credit for his push to war being the fuel for the solution.
What does Assad get? No USA attack, with continued support from Russia and Iran.
What does Russia get -- applause and continued access for its navy at a base on Syria's coast -- plus world class recognition for its "diplomacy."
As long as we didn't spend zillions to kill Syrians for killing Syrians in a way we don't approve of, I call it victory!
Reality.
So, understanding Obama was in a bind and struggling to get an OK from congress, and picking up on Kerry's sarcastic remark that the only thing that would stop an American punitive strike would be if Syria turned over ALL it's chemical weapons to the international community -- which Kerry, obviously, never dreamed Assad would actually do -- Putin took the spotlight and said Russia would take all of Syria's chem weapons, with international community witnesses to assure the deed was done.
Thus Putin (who used to be head of the Soviet KGB) both kicked and saved Obama's ass; as Obama leaped at the opportunity to get out of the corner he had put himself in.
The deal, of course, won't in the least hinder Assad's ability to stay in power -- particularly when it is beginning to appear ever more clearly that it was the rebels who effected the Sarin nerve gas attack. Obama's critics in congress who have viewed both the unclassified and classified "evidence" Obama's team put together say that there was absolutely no real evidence linking Assad or his regime to the gas attack -- our intel, once again (remember Iraq?), is totally speculative and based on hunches.
What do we get? We get to shut down a new war before it started, and Obama will take credit for his push to war being the fuel for the solution.
What does Assad get? No USA attack, with continued support from Russia and Iran.
What does Russia get -- applause and continued access for its navy at a base on Syria's coast -- plus world class recognition for its "diplomacy."
As long as we didn't spend zillions to kill Syrians for killing Syrians in a way we don't approve of, I call it victory!
Reality.
