Tuesday, September 10, 2013

SYRIA - Russian Proposal, IF It’s Real

For this to be 'real' will depend on Assad and how long he will dither to give him more time to murder Syrian citizens.  If he agrees, I suspect it IS a stalling tactic, just like Iran on nuclear program.

"Is Push for Syria to Forfeit Chemical Arms a Stalling Tactic or Serious Move?" PBS Newshour 9/9/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The Russian government spoke out today about a proposal to Syria to hand over and destroy their chemical weapon stockpile.  Judy Woodruff talks to Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, about the possibility of preventing a U.S. military strike and the positive response by Syria.

 
From PBS NewsHour on Vimeo.


"Obama: Diplomatic Solution to Syria 'Overwhelmingly My Preference'" PBS Newshour 9/9/2013

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  President Barack Obama sat down with Gwen Ifill to discuss reports that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad might consider handing over chemical weapon stockpiles to international control.  Mr. Obama said he favors diplomacy over military strikes and is encouraged that the U.S. can work with Russia on a diplomatic solution.



"Obama Backs Idea for Syria to Cede Control of Arms" by MICHAEL D. SHEAR, MICHAEL R. GORDON, and STEVEN LEE MYERS; New York Times 9/9/2013

Excerpt

President Obama on Monday tentatively embraced a Russian diplomatic proposal to avert a United States military strike on Syria by having international monitors take control of the Syrian government’s chemical weapons.  The move added new uncertainty to Mr. Obama’s push to win support among allies, the American public and members of Congress for an attack.

In a series of television interviews with six cable and broadcast networks, Mr. Obama capped a remarkable day of presidential lobbying for military action and a dizzying series of developments at home and abroad.  Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said early Monday that Syria could avoid an attack by putting its chemical weapons in the hands of monitors and agreeing to ultimately eliminate its massive arsenal of poison gas.  It was an idea that was quickly praised by top officials in Syria and some lawmakers in the United States.

“It’s possible,” Mr. Obama said on CNN of the Russian proposal, “if it’s real.”

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