Putin: Syria plan will work if US rejects force

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says that a plan for Syria to turn over its chemical weapons stockpile will only work if the United States agrees not to use force.

Putin told reporters on Tuesday that the plan "can work, only in the event that we hear that the American side and those who support the U.S.A, in this sense, reject the use of force."

President Barack Obama has thrown his support behind a French resolution to the U.N. Security Council even as he pushes the idea of U.S. airstrikes against Assad's regime if that effort fails.

The resolution would demand that Syria open its chemical weapons program to inspection, place it under international control, and ultimately dismantle it.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SYRIA_DIPLOMACY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-10-14-40-34

[David__77]

1. This is a key point.

That means no chapter 7 resolution, and ideally no congressional authorization for use of force. The UN will also not approve any "triggered" sanctions. There has been too much abuse of such resolutions in the past to possibly countenance this.

In short, the French resolution is DOA.

[joshcryer]

11. Russia could've at least gone to the UNSC meeting.

But they're playing childish. A Chapter 6 resolution is necessary, and it would be a trigger for force usage if the weapons weren't disposed of. The question is whether the "further measures" would be ignored like Bush did under Resolution 1441 (he did not get UN authorization to use "further measures" which he was required to do). I doubt Obama would do that and if, in the future, it was decided that the weapons were still in play (another gassing or something), then the US would call for the UNSC to convene.

Leaving Russia in an even more precarious position, because if another mass gassing happens, after they presumably disarmed the weapons, then all sorts of questions must be asked and Russia would be boxed in to answer them.

[David__77]

12. I don't think Russia will agree to that either.

They will instead say that non-cooperation from Syria can be dealt with if it arises.

[joshcryer]

13. That would never pass muster.

And it would prove that Russia isn't really serious about this.

Chapter 6 specifically discusses peaceful settlement of disputes. The US disputes Syria's weapons program. Therefore it must be used if the disarmament is going to have any weight behind it. Otherwise Russia would be seen as backing down from their position. Article 37 of Chapter 6 specifically says that if the dispute is failed to be settled, then they must return to the UNSC to discuss the matter further.

If there is a resolution it will have to use Chapter 6. Otherwise Russia might be trying to "go it alone" but that would be a smack in the face of the international community. Russia can easily sign off on Chapter 6 and if they fail to disarm the weapons (another mass gassing occurs), they can then claim that Syria's weapons program doesn't "endanger the maintenance of international peace and security," which was basically their position from before. But that would be difficult to argue if another couple of hundred people are gassed to death.

[another_liberal]

2. Does he mean we'll have to give up any possibility of having our war?

That is unacceptable!

That is unthinkable!

That is unpatriotic!

That is simply Un-American!

[azurnoir]

3. oh but doesn't Putin understand

Obama never really intended to bomb, it was all just 13 level multidimensional intergalactic chess to force Putin to get get the Syrians to sign some paper

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. It was actually 19-level multidimensional intergalactic whatever...

Those last six levels are so secret that not even the NSA is allowed to know about them. I only got the memo because I have the same clearance as Kissinger, for some strange reason.

[davidpdx]

8. ...

[azurnoir]

9. nope you shouldn't

but then again I am against bombing Syria or anyone else

[joshcryer]

14. Putin has been blocking the UN at every move.

[cosmicone]

4. Obama and Kerry look like schoolchildren

as compared to the seasoned Russian diplomatic front -- perfectly timed and nuanced.

[wisteria]

6. The problem was the President-not Kerry.

The President got cold feet it seems and decided to take the entire matter to Congress. This was done right after Secretary Kerry was given directions to proceed forcefully. As opinion turned on the President he seemed to want the message tempered leaving Kerry to have to grapple for words to describe what the President wanted done.

[wisteria]

7. The US isn't going to agree to this. We lose leverage if we do.

Stay turned.

[cstanleytech]

10. Oh they wont say it in the way he wanted it will be done

so as to make it clear that the US can if need be use force so that say it would turn out they lied about turning all their chemical weapons over.