BOOM: Obama has been pursuing a peaceful diplomatic solution for weeks behind the scenes

[Cali_Democrat]

<...>
Secretary of State John Kerry has been ridiculed in some quarters for having “accidentally” raised the idea that is now central to the deal being worked on -- if not yet fully worked out -- to turn Syria’s chemical weapons over to Russia for safekeeping and prompt destruction under U.N. supervision.

In fact, the idea had been discussed on and off for weeks in a “very tight circle,” one administration official said -- a circle that included Kerry, the president, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power. It surfaced in public in the Israeli press over the weekend, and Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had talked about it well before that.

And Obama said in interviews Monday night that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed the idea at the G-20 last week. “This wasn’t an accident,” said one top White House official.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/syria-attack_n_3900671.html?1378832543

Bush was absolutely determined to attack Iraq over chemical weapons and he did even though the weapons were nonexistent.

Assad admits to having chemical weapons and yet Obama still pursued diplomacy behind the scenes. Assad's chemical weapons will ultimately be destroyed if this solution becomes reality. A win for human beings in the middle east who do not want to become victims of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal which is the 3rd largest stockpile in the world.

Obama is no Bush.

The difference between the two is night and day when faced with similar situations.

[DCBob]

1. This is not surprising at all to me.

Fits his MO.

[riqster]

2. And what did all the screeching and

[IMG][/IMG] accomplish? Nothing.

There's a lesson there, if anyone cares to learn it.

[treestar]

43. lol

hair on fire is hilarious!

[pasto76]

54. the screechers dont care to learn

and their excuses and denial of how our government is handling this makes them little better than the teapublicans they claim to depise.

[Tx4obama]

3. Longer than 'weeks'. President Obama been working on it more than a year.

-snip-

According to a senior Senate aide, Obama told Democrats that he had asked Kerry to reach out to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and offer the diplomatic solution.

"He mentioned that that occurred during the G-20 meeting (a year ago), when he met with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin -- that he would assign Kerry to discuss diplomatic alternatives," added Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

A senior administration official confirmed to The Huffington Post that Obama and Putin first discussed the concept in Los Cabos at the G-20 in June 2012. After the first plenary session, while world leaders were mingling, Obama and Putin went to a corner of the room and spoke for nearly half an hour about Syria.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/john-kerry-syria-solution_n_3901863.html

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. +1. Thanks for that.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Yup. n/t

[flamingdem]

23. good stuff Tx

[BlancheSplanchnik]

36. thank you!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3633181

[Cha]

41. Mahalo Tx

[blm]

44. And Kerry's actually been working on Assad for 8 years, because he knew

that the war hawks wanted to expand military action into Syria in 2005.

It might seem odd to say right now after all the harsh war rhetoric going back and forth, but, Syria has long viewed Kerry as an honest broker, and it has always been a key factor in why Obama wanted him for Sec of State.

[Enrique]

5. BOOM! administration makes claim that puts administration in a good light!

that said, if their very favorable claim about themselves turns out to be true then it is very impressive.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. The Russians also admit to the diplomacy behind the scenes:

Putin, Obama discussed Syria arms control idea last week: Kremlin

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the idea of placing Syria's chemical weapons arsenal under international control on the sidelines of a G20 summit last week, Putin's spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The issue was discussed," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said by telephone. He would not say who raised the issue or give other details.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/us-syria-crisis-russia-usa-idUSBRE9890I020130910

So now what's your spin?

[Enrique]

9. no spin

this story, along with the one in post #3, makes me think this is actually true. Corroboration by non-anonymous people that are not part of the administration.

[Schema Thing]

68. and the fact that it's in perfect character with Obama and his team?

[Janecita]

83. Thank you!!!

All these kool aid drinking people are driving me nuts! The same ones that were totally pro-strike last week are pro-diplomacy this week, of course, in their minds it was all a brilliant plan created by Obama.

[Sheepshank]

86. your attempt to validate hate by misconstruing a contingency on DU

just maked you seems bitter. Are you mad that Obama didn't get to be the warmongering prick you wanted him to be? Perhaps laying off the insults may help your perspective. kool aid?...really, you use a term where innocent people died, to critisize persons for wanting to avoid a situation where people may die? Do you even see the idiocy in using "kool aid"?

Most of those that supported Obama's loud call to set Assad up to fear for his life...pretty much understood and hoped that Assad would get the message loud and clear before any military strike would be necessary. Admin has been setting this up for months and years hoping for the very outcome we just got. Of course Assad may not have gong along with the Chemical weapons destruction and signing the treaty...of course he may have chosen to dig his heels in. But in negotiations you try and set up the favorable situation and hope for the best...seems exactly what has happened. THAT is the tack that most Obama supporters had presumed, and not the bloodthristy spin you are trying to press.

[Janecita]

96. Whatever

Believe what you want to believe. I'm done with this forum. At the end you guys have proven to be as blinded by party BS as Republicans are by their politicians. Enjoy your kool aid.

[Sheepshank]

97. "you leaving????"

she asked in nervous anticipation?

[Old and In the Way]

8. I think Assad also realized that it was imperitive for him to get rid of these weapons.

His long-term hopes for survival is to completely rid his aresenals of CW. If there is another CW attack and he's come clean, other actors in the ME - Saufi Arabia, AQ - will be the likely suspects. The speed with which Syria signaled their willingness to capitulate should be factored into the discussion.

[freshwest]

10. Media only offers what the billionaire owners order them to sell. Buyer beware.

[Rosco T.]

52. Oh Horseshit.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Deal with it.

[George II]

60. And here we go.................sheesh, "the sky is falling, the sky is falling"!!!

[Cha]

66. You're right freshwest.. The US mediawhores are on full display as usual. And, it

ain't no fooking cigar. No matter how many bullies tell you or me to "deal with it".

[freshwest]

67. Media Matters took them down prettily, didn't they, though? The progressives win again!

[SidDithers]

11. DU rec...nt

Sid

[ColesCountyDem]

12. Rec!

[Ocelot]

13. Bullshit "story" without sources

In fact, the idea had been discussed on and off for weeks in a “very tight circle,” one administration official said -- a circle that included Kerry, the president, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power. It surfaced in public in the Israeli press over the weekend, and Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had talked about it well before that.

And Obama said in interviews Monday night that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed the idea at the G-20 last week. “This wasn’t an accident,” said one top White House official.

Unless someone can put names to these phantom top White House officials, I call bullshit on this Huff Puff story.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. Putin's spokesman even admits to diplomacy behind the scenes...

Putin, Obama discussed Syria arms control idea last week: Kremlin

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the idea of placing Syria's chemical weapons arsenal under international control on the sidelines of a G20 summit last week, Putin's spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The issue was discussed," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said by telephone. He would not say who raised the issue or give other details.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/us-syria-crisis-russia-usa-idUSBRE9890I020130910

[Ocelot]

20. "He would not say who raised the issue or give other details".

I wouldn't take Putin's word for anything either.

[Cali_Democrat]

24. So both the US and Russia are lying in this case?

There's been no diplomacy and no proposal for placing Syria's chemical weapons under international control?

[Ocelot]

27. Not "the US"

The Obama Administration and Russia are lying.

[Cali_Democrat]

31. ...

[Ocelot]

33. Yuk it up

Your "Pres O" has done a great job at diminishing Democrats' chances in 2014 and 2016. Maybe he thinks that's funny too.

[NBachers]

49. Please continue, Ocelot

[Ocelot]

62. No, you continue (n/t)

[Sheepshank]

91. do you realize

how dumb your responses are sounding?

[Ocelot]

93. How dumb are they sounding and what do you think of me?

[Sheepshank]

95. You supported "Logic"

after some pretty juvenile comebacks. I don't actually don't need to say any more.

[creeksneakers2]

58. What happened to Obama

being a tool of the military industrial complex?

[pasto76]

55. really. You think that lunch he had with Sec Clinton was about 2016?

WRONG! they were talking about Syria

[Arkana]

81. Are you familiar at all with Occam's Razor?

[berni_mccoy]

14. Obama haters are going to have a jagged pill to swallow.

[Logical]

17. And the worshipers are gullible as hell. No difference. n-t

[Ocelot]

65. So are the Saudis...so is Benjamin Netanyahu

[Logical]

15. LOL, Gullible much? "one administration official said". Wow, that is proof! n-t

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Russia even admits to diplomacy behind the scenes

Your thoughts?

[Logical]

19. You are using Russia as a source? n-t

[Cali_Democrat]

21. So the Obama admin says they've been pursing diplomacy and Russia confirms it

What other sources would you like?

[Darkhawk32]

25. You need to quote our Lord and Savior... William Pitt. (just playing, just playing)

[Cali_Democrat]

29. hehehe

It's fun watching the haters spin so furiously.

Man I'm loving this!

So apparently the Russians and Americans haven't been pursuing diplomacy even thought they both say they have been?

[SunSeeker]

34. LOL. You mean the person who actually made the deal happen?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023638585

[Ocelot]

22. LOL +1

[johnd83]

26. Gunboat diplomacy

I sound like a broken record but the threat of the attack was a threat intended to be negotiated away if at all possible.

[George II]

63. Was John Kennedy a Democrat? F-yes, BOTH of them (K and Obama), and TWO great jobs!

[djean111]

28. So...anything Obama says is not to be taken at face value.

Good to know.
Thanks!!!!!!!

[Cali_Democrat]

30. The Russians also admit to the diplomacy behind the scenes. n/t

[djean111]

32. I am not disputing any behind the scenes stuff from anyone or any country.

I just wonder what is the point of listening to anyone in government speak any more - seriously, what they say has become meaningless. What if whatever Obama says tonight is just more trickery or whatever? Why bother listening or discussing?
Best to just see what happens, because we sure as fuck will never know the truth.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

39. I'm sure David Cameron loves the notion that Obama set him up to take a grievous hit

Because if one argues that the President had this planned all along, it's an inescapable conclusion that he knowingly fucked Cameron in the process. That doesn't seem to get addressed at DU.

[U4ikLefty]

51. Excellent point.

I'm sure the cheerleaders will explain it away.

[George II]

70. Ludicrous generalization, or were you being sarcastic?

[djean111]

71. Wish I was being sarcastic.

Not ludicrous at all - to believe that his first Syria speech was all just a masterful trick is to realize that anything he says may just be another masterful trick. How to tell the difference?

[George II]

75. When was Obama's "first" Syria speech? I've searched everywhere and only find last night's speech.

[djean111]

77. It was on august 31 - looking for a link n/t

[SunSeeker]

35. K & R

[rocktivity]

37. "Boom?" More like "Duh."

Did you honestly think that Obama was serious about engineering a carbon copy of what Bush had done? He knew perfectly well that his stance would spark a wildfire of public protest, and that the Rethugs would eventually stop supporting him purely out of spite. So all he really needed to do was engineer some strategic leaks to the press and some international horse trading -- crisis over!


rocktivity

[DisgustipatedinCA]

38. In that case, it makes the deathlovers here look stupid, cruel, and hypocritical

Do you think we don't remember all the missile-cheering, the Hitler references, the exhortations that we must bomb? That genie's not going back in the bottle, and those people will own their words whether they want to or not.

[frylock]

48. no no, man. you see, they were all part of the act as well and have been rehearsing for months now..

we got Ocean 11'd by Obama and the BOG!!!

[beerandjesus]

72. Right. They didn't REALLY mean it when they were agitating for war....

....they were just supporting Obama's DIPLOMATIC effort!

I mean, shucks, when they said Assad was Hitler, and that if you don't want war, you must hate Syrian children, that was just one of the dimensions in the 11-dimensional chess!

We Obama-haters sure look stupid for having expressed the belief that war is wrong, and should be avoided at all costs!

Boy, the if-you-oppose-war-you-must-love-Hitler crowd sure showed us!

[winter is coming]

40. How incredibly clever of him to conceal that by campaigning (unsuccessfully) for a war resolution.

And Parliament's rejection of a British role in this? A master stroke.

[frylock]

50. that parliament thingy never happened

[QC]

56. Well, the 650 members of the House of Commons were all in on the plan.

Clever, eh?

[beerandjesus]

73. One more dimension in the chess game!

[arely staircase]

42. recomended nt

[Sand Wind]

45. Cost nothing to be optimist. I'm asking myself what will Assad do to win his war

against Syria.

Because his only hope was his WMD...and now that he can't use it again, he will face the same fate as Saddam.

So It's probable that he will be innovative in new kind of massacre, what will it be ?

[Cha]

46. No, only certain people with agendas think this progress in

diplomacy "fell out of the sky".

Thanks Cali

[Sheepshank]

90. There is a lot of anguish going on

recently that Obama supporters asserted all along that beating the war drums does not necessarily mean war...and they were correct.

Who'd-a-guessed that the haters would be wrong....... yet again?

[Cha]

92. Moi..

"Who'd-a-guessed that the haters would be wrong....... yet again?"

[customerserviceguy]

47. It'll be fun to see what happens

when Boner and Can't-or say that they want something in budget negotiations for backing the President up on Syria. How's the 13th dimensional chess game play out then?

[beerandjesus]

74. Well, I'm sure that if Obama capitulates, the pro-war crowd will be here to call us Hitler-lovers.

Not that Obama would EVER capitulate to the baggers........

[agent46]

53. Now THAT is a conspiracy theory!

[SleeplessinSoCal]

57. My brain was hurting from trying to imagine this neo Obama,

and now it makes perfect sense. As much as I was hoping with all my might that there was a strategy for diplomacy, his determination convinced so many that I was becoming fearful. What I think we're seeing, with some evidence of past behavior, is a Poker ploy. And the cards aren't yet all on the table.

[George II]

59. And many here had already crucified Obama because he even raised the possibility...

...of an attack.

I just wonder how DU would have reacted to Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis!

[politicasista]

61. Post-speech kick

[muriel_volestrangler]

69. Such a 'tight circle', the State Dept. spokeswoman didn't know about it

Secretary of State John Kerry was making a rhetorical comment when he said on Monday that Syria's President Bashar al-Assad would not hand over his country's chemical weapons.

Kerry told a news briefing on Monday that Assad could avoid a military strike by turning over all his chemical weapons within a week but added that Assad was not about to do that.

"Secretary Kerry was making a rhetorical argument about the impossibility and unlikelihood of Assad turning over chemical weapons he has denied he used," a U.S. State Department spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

"His (Kerry's) point was that this brutal dictator with a history of playing fast and loose with the facts cannot be trusted to turn over chemical weapons, otherwise he would have done so long ago. That's why the world faces this moment."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/09/us-syria-crisis-weapons-idUSBRE9880GE20130909

If Kerry had raised it with Lavrov, then his department ought to have known about it.

[indepat]

76. Obama is certainly no Bush, but having high-ranking administration officials dissemble rabidly

incoherent disingenuous right-wing talking points to foster yet another war of aggression is neither cool nor in the national interest imo.

[BeeBee]

78. But...but...but...

Obama's a war criminal! Kerry's a liar! They're all worse than Bush!

(Sarcasm....if it's really necessary)

[Downtown Hound]

79. Never said Obama was Bush

Just that he's not all that great from a progressive standpoint.

[Arkana]

80. But...but...WARMONGERER! PNAC! OBAMA EQUALZ BUSH!

[mehrrh]

82. I had no doubt

I am feeling validated because I had felt all along that Obama was playing the long game here and negotiations behind the scenes were going on. Kerry's words were deliberately casual -- the responses from Russia and Syria were almost immediate.
Few want to credit the president for putting interests of the nation ahead of his own and his party. He has been the brunt of criticism from the media, the opposition and even his own party -- but he continues to go forward with a plan of actionable diplomacy, all the while threatening war so that he will not be taken lightly -- his threats are real -- he will employ them -- but he will certainly exhaust any and all options before acting on his threat. He will give Assad time to "save face" and Russia to help him do so.
Iran is the enemy waiting in the wings for an opportunity -- I am confident that Obama has never lost sight of that realization.

Obama is leading in a pragmatic, yet determined manner --unlike his predecessor -- it's too bad that more people can't see it.
Historians will mark Obama with proper credit for his achievements.

[azurnoir]

84. so IOW they've been running around banging the war drums

when in reality they've been working diplomacy, how ummm impressive and believable and all that

[mountain grammy]

85. Why is this a surprise? For the last couple of weeks while Obama

was rattling the missiles and giving Putin dirty looks at the G20, I kept thinking, they're telling them to give up the weapons. Assad says his hands are clean, make him prove it.
I believed the President would hit Syria. I wrote 3 letters telling him our family did not support such action. I also wrote and called my rep and both senators.
My husband kept telling me to calm down, Assad will blink. Even Russia doesn't want to side with a barbarian.

As much as I dislike trite expressions, I gotta say: "Obama's got this."

[kentuck]

87. No, that ain't right.

Morning Joe said they stumbled upon it???

[Hutzpa]

89. Joe Scab can kiss our collective asses. nt

[Hutzpa]

88. This is very good news

glad to know Susan Rice and Samantha Power are involved.

I'm in love with these ladies.

[Bradical79]

94. Well, Im glad he's using diplomacy

And I'm glad he didn't listen to the hawks. Too many of his fan club were ready to let him lead them right off a cliff. Though nothing is final yet, and there's still a possibility this all falls apart. For someone obviously very different than Bush when it comes to war, his war supporters sure pulled out many of the same old pro-Iraq arguments. Obama going hard against public opinion on this issue makes more sense if he and Putin were working on a deal behind the scenes. He's generally a pragmatic deal maker for good or bad.