White House Takes Credit For Syria’s Apparent Concession

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



DYLAN SCOTT SEPTEMBER 10, 2013, 9:30 AM

As Syria announced Tuesday morning that it would accept Russia’s offer to hand over its chemical weapons, the White House and other proponents of U.S. strikes rushed to claim credit, arguing that the threat of military intervention brought the Assad regime to the negotiating table.

“In our view, the only reason this is now being seriously discussed by the Russians is because of the threat of U.S. military action,” a senior administration official told TPM. “Were chemical weapons to be transferred into international control and ultimately destroyed, that would be a positive outcome. But, if this has any chance of happening, we need to have the threat of military action in our pocket.”

Lawmakers took the same line in responding to the sudden developments over the last 24 hours.

“While at this point I have healthy skepticism that this offer will change the situation and it will be several days before we can fully determine its credibility, I do know that it never would have been floated if the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had not approved the authorization for the use of force last week,” Sen. Bob Corker, ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement.

:::snip:::

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/09/obama-takes-credit-for-syrias-apparent-surrender.php

[philosslayer]

1. Yet, most here will deny it.

Sad. Very well done Mr. President

[Samantha]

4. I think President Obama is doing a remarkable job under extremely difficult circumstances

He does deserve a lot of credit.

I do not agree with him on every issue, there are 2 issues in particular that upset me, but I never went into this thinking I would be in total agreement with everything he did while in office. He acknowledged to us all after his 2008 acceptance speech in Chicago that we would not agree with everything he did, but he had gotten a lot more from us than we would from him. It was a humbling statement.

Sam

[Bucky]

22. I'm waiting to see how Fox News gives credit to the House Republicans for this.

Probably something like "By signalling they were willing to partially support the president in a time of international tensions, the Republican leadership scared Assad into surrendering his poison gases."

[disidoro01]

5. What was

well done?
Last I knew, Kerry was frothing at the mouth and made some off the cuff remarks and the state department doubled down on the fact that Assad can't be trusted. Now less than a day later he can and the White House saved the day.
I don't ascribe incompetence to the president but on the other hand, he didn't out maneuver anyone on this.
Made up stories to push a misguided belief that the president is a cross between Einstein and Gandhi. He is a politician.

[philosslayer]

7. The conflict is de-escalating

Without a shot being fired. And the weapons will be turned over. All orchestrated. By President Obama and SOS Kerry. What is it exactly you don't get?

[disidoro01]

10. You are

misrepresenting what is going on, perhaps deliberately. The conflict in Syria has not de-escalated and you have no proof that the weapons will be turned over. It was not orchestrated by the President and Kerry, This process has only just begun and only involves the chemical weapons, not the continued slaughter of people on both sides in Syria.

[karynnj]

19. Even if the civil war continues, it is good for Syria, the region and the world

to NOT have chemical weapons there. The ONLY claim the WH has is that there refusing to look the other way on CWs led to Russia pushing for this.

As to a political solution to end the civil war - that is a far bigger deal and can really be done only by the Syrians.

[DonViejo]

8. Time to read some more informative OP's...

wouldn't you agree?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023635856

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023634350

[disidoro01]

13. You realize

that posts are not facts? They may hold links like the one I have below. It references the Russian proposal.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE9880HY20130910

[anokaflash]

9. Not as off the cuff as we were led to believe

The President and Putin discussed this option last Friday. There was a legitimate offer on the table when Kerry made his remarks. He may have jumped the gun, but it certainly wasn't an off the cuff spur of the moment thing. -> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/09/obama-putin-syria-chemical-weapons_n_3896333.html

The pressure of military action, and the commitment by the President to go forward with our without Congressional approval showed strength and leadership and forced Syria/Russia hand to find a peaceful way out. Unlike the Iraq fiasco, Syria has admitted to being in possession of WMD/Gas and have now agreed to put them in independent control. isn't that the ultimate goal of all this.

[karynnj]

18. Kerry was not "frothing at the mouth"

As to credit - everyone claims credit - and there is some justification. If Obama had ignored the attack, would Russia have pushed Syria to get rid of chemical weapons? TI don't think so. But - this has not yet happened and it is too early to give anyone credit.

[Cryptoad]

12. acknowledging anything that President Obama does

, sticks in the craw of many!

[Tarheel_Dem]

20. Ditto! Quite honestly, reading the comments here aren't much different from that other place.

You know the one I mean.

[warrior1]

2. as well they should

well played sir.

[geek tragedy]

3. Success has a thousand fathers, failure is an orphan nt

[Snake Plissken]

6. 15% of Republicans gave Mitt romney credit for capturing and killing Osama Bin Laden

I bet even more of them would give Mitt Romney credit for Syria’s Apparent Concession ... if they could remember who Mitt Romney is.

It will be interesting to see who the Republicans attempt to give credit to this time.

[L0oniX]

11. Well I am happy Obama came up with the idea/offer.

[blkmusclmachine]

14. Of course they do.

[arewenotdemo]

15. Obama should also take credit for his covert war against Syria.

[Capt. Obvious]

16. Obama works in mysterious ways

[polichick]

17. Well, can you blame them for spinning? All politicians spin.

[Bucky]

21. This is a win for Syria. The slaughter will continue once the chemicals are rounded up.

Putin gets the silver medal. I was/am against the bombing plan, but the US is now taken out of the equation.