'Everybody wins' in chemical weapons deal
Russia has proposed putting Syria's chemical weapons under international control - a possible way out of US President Barack Obama's dilemma, says political risk consultant, John Hulsman.
DW: Russia has seized on a remark by US Secretary of State John Kerry that Syria put its chemical weapons stockpiles under international control and then have them destroyed. Syria has now apparently agreed to this move. Could this be the breakthrough for both the US and Syria to save face and avert a military strike?
John Hulsman: I think it can be. The advantage to what Kerry proposed, or more accurately, blundered out, is that there is a metric to it. The administration would certainly have lost the House vote on Capitol Hill. The problem they were having was that they were asked: what is our objective, what can we tangibly gain from a military strike? The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Dempsey, answered honestly: I don't know. But now, destroying stockpiles - this is clear, this is tangible: either they give up their chemical weapons, or they do not. So you have something measurable to look at.
Why would Russia do such a thing? Well, Russia has tremendous influence in Syria and it doesn't want America messing that up. And, as Assad is winning the war on the ground - an unpalatable reality - Russia is very happy with things on the ground as they are. They don't want things to change with America getting dragged into a broader conflict. So, Syria saves face and doesn't get bombed and the United States saves face because President Obama won't have a crushing defeat in the House and doesn't have to ignore Congress if he opts for a military strike and precipitate some sort of constitutional crisis. So, everybody wins - because the Secretary of State can't control what he says. That's the odd Bismarckian world we live in.
http://www.dw.de/everybody-wins-in-chemical-weapons-deal/a-17077561
