Friday, September 16, 2016

Russia And The U.S. Do Not Have A Plan 'B' If The Syrian Ceasefire Collapses

© REUTERS/ Abdalrhman Ismail

TASS: Russian diplomat says Moscow, US have no plan ‘B’ on Syria

At the same time, the diplomat pointed out that Russia and the US had an understanding on the separation of the Syrian opposition from the terrorist groups

MOSCOW, September 16. /TASS/. The US should adhere to the agreements on ceasefire in Syria reached with Russia because there is no plan ‘B’, the Russian President’s Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told BBC.

"We don’t have any plan ‘B’. When we reach an agreement we say that’s it, this should be implemented. We have no plan ‘B’ or ‘C’. This is the only plan that is on the table and we call on everybody to implement what is written there," Bogdanov said when asked why the US should trust Russia in the settlement in Syria.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Apparently the U.S> does have a Plan B .... U.S. Readies ‘Plan B’ to Arm Syria Rebels (WSJ), and so does Saudi Arabia .... Saudi Arabia warns of ‘Plan B’ for Syria while US calls on all sides to work together (RT).

3 comments:

RRH said...

Plan 'B' was always plan 'A'.

B.Poster said...

Actually Russia probably does have a plan B. Plan B would simply be for Assad and his forces backed up by Russia to annihilate all opposition to the rule of Assad. If the US and others have a plan B that does not feature Assad as the ruler of Syria, it will ultimately fail as Russia is not going to allow Assad to be removed from power.

Whether optimal or not which I do not know if it is optimal any plan pertaining to Syria that does not feature Assad cannot succeed as the Russians are not going to allow his removal. As such, all plans need to focus on reality and not wishful thinking.

RRH said...

Agreed 'B',

The Russians, Syrians, Iranians etc. know this ceasefire won't hold and fully expect the "rebels" and their backers to resume attacks more than likely before October.

Plan 'B' will most likely consist of "whole hog" operations after thorough intelligence gathering.

Assad recently stated that the intention is to regain control of the whole country. The Russians did not contradict him and thw Iranians are loudly on board.

The infighting and corruption among Government forces, which has done so much to hamper their war effort is being addressed. Ideologically committed leadership (e.g. Suheil al Hassan) has emerged and the fight will be taken to the enemy.

Contrast this with an alphabet soup of "rebel" gangs, the strongest being the Nusra led "Army of Conquest" with a friends on/ friends off relationship with each other and their "craycray" sponsors (shout out to Jay) and we can understand Assad's confidence.

This being said, when all is said and done, despite his laudable steadfastness, he should move on as his neoliberal reforms, cozying up to "the West", inability maintain Syrian sovereignty over large swathes of the country and the rampant corruption throughout the country and army are his responsibility.