Syria Destroyed All Of Its Declared Chemical Weapons Production And Mixing Facilities, Watchdog Says

[trumad]

Well played President Obama---Secretary of State Kerry.

A comment from the linked story:

Speak quietly and carry a big stick diplomacy seems to have worked.

As recently as 3 months ago Russia was saying that Syria had no chemical weapons then the president threatened a missile strike and within 1 week a suggestion made by the US at last year’s G20 meeting that Russia join in on putting pressure paid dividends when John Kerry at a press briefing revisited it while at a meeting with Serge Labrov, the chief diplomat for Russia and with a day of kerry’s deliberate jab, Russia stepped in both admitting that Syria not only had chemical weapons but also put pressure on the Assad regime to accept the offer on the table.

It was a belated but inevitable reaction by Russia as they bowed not only to US pressure but also acquiescing to the consensus of the G2O meeting 1 month earlier.
Russia decided to join the side of humanity and the results were inevitable, swift and pragmatic for Russia which was facing world backlash aimed at the Sochi winter Olympics for their radical new laws aimed at vilifying the LGBT community in Russia to the point that violence against them was neither prosecuted by the Russian legal system in spite of hundred of video uploads showing gross violence but in the governments silence, they were giving tacit approval.

Russia saved face and was finally on the right side of recent history with their 180 degree U turn but also was giving a reprieve on their failure to uphold basic human rights.
Russia might be evolving away from the current plutocratic ruled, extreme right that it evolved into after the fall of the Soviet state.
Now if only they can have free and fair elections, Russia might just become a democracy.

Remarkably well done President Obama and John Kerry and kudos to Serge Labrov and Putin for grabbing the life that was offered them.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/syria-chemical-weapons-destroyed_n_4180306.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. Yes - just a comment.

Russia actually said that the insurgents had used the chemical weapons : not that Syria didn't possess them.

[Scootaloo]

2. Yes, but "the narrative" works so much better with sleazy, scheming ruskies!

[trumad]

3. Narrative?

[arely staircase]

4. But, but uh, Bush's third term and impeachable and Empire and stuff nt

[Purveyor]

5. Putin gets most of the here in my book. Thanks Vlad and thanks President Obama by seizing

this opportunity to keep us out of engaged conflict.

[trumad]

6. Putin was backed in a corner...

Remember--he originally said they had no chemical weapons.

[Purveyor]

7. I don't remember Putin saying they didn't have them but he said they didn't use them. I bet

Putin would love to be 'backed in a corner' again if they outcome would be as great to his reputation as this episode.