Well, if the stated objective (of stopping any further use of chemical weapons in Syria and neutralizing the arsenal) can be reached without an actual military strike, it is of course the preferred way to go. Personally, I think it should be obvious to anyone that a dictator's promise cannot be taken seriously for a second but, for tactical reasons, Obama might accept to play this hide and seek game (of Assad against the UN), without losing face. At least for a while...
Syria — thread cleaned up
#181
Posted 10 September 2013 - 03:19 PM
#182
Posted 10 September 2013 - 08:03 PM
Recent developments in this case have cheered me a bit actually.
http://www.huffingto..._n_3889551.html
Bild am Sonntag is now reporting, citing unnamed German intelligence sources, that the chemical weapons attack may have been launched by Syrian government forces against Assad's wishes. If that's what's going on, we're seeing a rogue element appearing in Syrian government forces, then that's bad news for Syrian stability but it also means that the Russian initiative to make Syria finally sign on to the Chemical Weapons Convention has a chance of success, as Assad has got to be aware that he's got potential mutineers working for him.
If this affair can be resolved with Syria genuinely signing on to the Convention and allowing chemical weapons inspectors into the country, I'm for that result. Even though I really don't think the Russians have the best interests of the Syrian public close to their hearts, any event that results in the destruction of sarin gas stockpiles has got to be seen as a move forward.