RT: Obama to UN: US ready to work with Russia and Iran on Syria
President Barack Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, telling world leaders that the United States is willing to work with Russia and Iran on solving the current crises in Syria.
In discussing the spread of Islamic State militants throughout Syria and Iraq, as well as the flood of migrants and refugees fleeing conflict there, Obama promised to work with the international community because the US “by itself, cannot impose stability on a foreign land, unless we work with other nations.”
Update #1: Obama willing to work with Iran, Russia to end Syria conflict -- Reuters
Update #2: Obama: US willing to work with Russia, as well as Iran, to resolve Syria crisis -- AP
WNU Editor: I was surprised to hear this from the President. Even for him it is a huge reversal of U.S. policy towards Syria, Russia, and Iran. There is going to be a lot of reaction in the Middle East on this new U.S. policy .... especially among U.S. allies who will probably be viewing this as more U.S. capitulation and disengagement from the region.
Really dont know what speech did you saw... i sawObama saying Assad must go, Iran should not use proxies, russia should use diplomacy in Ukraine, etc.
ReplyDeleteI know he said that Miguel LM, but he also acknowledged that the U.S. is ready to work with Russia and Iran on Syria (and other countries) is a major reversal for President Obama .... something that he has always ruled out in the past.
ReplyDeleteIf he's still saying "Assad must go", then this isn't good. I was thinking perhaps he was proposing real changes to US policy. Apparently he has not and instead perhaps only a change at the margins. Such changes seem unlikely to do anything to build better relations with Russia.
ReplyDeleteIt may be desirable for Assad to "go." Perhaps it isn't but what is clear or at least should be clear to anyone not blinded by ideology is Assad is not going anywhere unless Russia approves of such an event, which is not going to happen in the current environment nor would be likely to happen at anytime in the foreseeable future.
Essentially any policies predicated on the idea that Assad is going to go or could be removed are unrealistic. When one sets unrealistic goals for the situation they find themselves in regardless what endeavor they are pursuing, one cannot expect to have good results. It would seem the best that can happen with a policy calling for Assad to "go", at least without Russia's direct approval on this, would be embarrassment when the policy fails.
The potential outcomes only get worse from there. Essentially its going to be best for countries and people not to pursue policies that are unrealistic.
B. Poster. You are probably right that this may be just a marginal shift .... but I like it said .... talk like this was unheard of from the White House only a month ago .... so in the eyes of diplomats .... this is a major shift. As to what may actually happen in the end .... in my opinion this Russian involvement carries great risks and little return. In the short term everyone is paying attention to what Moscow is saying .... but in the medium to long term .... Syria is just one big quagmire that will entail tens of thousands of soldiers, years of occupation, and tens of billions of dollars to stabilize .... something that Russia (or anyone else) has no interest in spending.
ReplyDeleteWNU Editor,
ReplyDeleteIt's just empty words, not action.
The neocon's are still in charge of US Foreign Policy and will remain in charge after the election.
Im still digesting it all.
ReplyDeleteObama's speech just floored me. To come up with a rendition of the whole hope and change thing at this time.... All the while glossing over or straight up ignoring the very real human cost (and criminality) of US and allied actions abroad. And to lecture Russia after working to orchestrate the events in Ukraine... I can't help but agree with Farquharson here.
My only agreement with President Obama was his recognition of the division and radicalisation taking place in his country. I'm there frequently and experience it every day. I think we underestimate the impact it is having on US policy all around. It's frightening.
The applause was also just too much. There is still a great deal of self delusion going around. There are people who still desperately want to believe in Mr Obama or what he supposedly represents. Even my Mom who became angry with me for calling him an Uncle Tom during our conversation over the speech.
In contrast, I could not help but notice the lack of prompted applause moments in President Putin's speech. Dead silence. The truth tends to do that to people. He has a knack for setting things out in a very real manner. He reminds me of the older generation. No time for fluff. Molotov.
Xi's commitment of 8000 soldiers and $1 billion to peacekeeping was interesting, to say the least. The $ 100 million for support to the AU forces was telling as well. I expect Russia to push for a UN mandate in Syria. China will back. US will veto, Syria will "officially" request....
Will this cost billions? Yep. Can the world afford Syria to slip into a post apocalyptic nightmare? Nope. Catch 22.
Incidentally, recent events have me graduating from beer to rye. Stronger stuff is needed to get through these times.
Scotch RRH .... Scotch is what I recommend.
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ReplyDeleteThe neocon's are still in charge of US Foreign Policy and will remain in charge after the election
ReplyDeleteIt's "neocons" or "neo-cons." As in "neo-conservative."
And that the neo-cons are still in charge is laughable.
Phillip,
DeleteI guess you've never heard of Victoria Nuland, Robert Kagan, Robet Gates, Geoffery Pyatt, Carl Gershman,
http://batrneoconwatch.blogspot.ca/?m=1
https://consortiumnews.com/2015/07/19/seeking-war-to-the-end-of-the-world/
Is there an apostrophe in cookies?
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