Obama and Putin fail to resolve differences over Syria

[alp227]

Source: Washington Post

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland — President Obama and his Russian counterpart, Vladi­mir Putin, failed to resolve on Monday their significant differences over how to bring about an end to Syria’s civil war, as each leader steps up military support for opposite sides in the worsening conflict.

Meeting for two hours on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit, Obama and Putin discussed shared economic interests, the recent Iranian elections and global security issues that have put the leaders at odds in the past.

Syria’s civil war was chief among them. Sitting stiffly in side-by-side chairs, Obama and Putin each indicated that they still disagree over the preferred outcome of the war, including on the future of President Bashar al-Assad and the goals of the armed rebellion.

“Our opinions do not coincide,” Putin said. “But all of us have the intention to stop the violence in Syria.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/obama-in-belfast-calls-on-young-people-to-protect-northern-irelands-fragile-peace/2013/06/17/57c326e8-d733-11e2-a016-92547bf094cc_singlePage.html

[elleng]

1. This is NEWS???

[Deep13]

2. They should just get a divorce. nt

[leveymg]

3. Obama's digging us in deeper and deeper. This will not end well for anyone.

How many more people have to die because we can't admit the whole thing was a covert CIA and State Dept. regime change operation that went hideously wrong?

[David__77]

4. True. This ain't Libya.

Assad himself has substantial, real support. And the alternative is simply unfathomable to any religious minority, and any Kurdish or non-Salafist Sunni as well.

[leveymg]

5. Fatally misconceived. Too bad so many have to die for such a stupid idea held by a few

former academics and crypto-neocons at Foggy Bottom and the NSC.

There is no one-size-fits-all humanitarian intervention. There is just more suffering and destruction, blood vendettas, and ignition of smoldering 900 year old sectarian wars. Now we're adding handheld anti-aircraft missiles to the mix.

[arewenotdemo]

6. And Obama was wrong there as well.

His intervention there was criminal.

And Americans were shocked when the American ambassador was killed by his own co-conspirators.

[karynnj]

7. Note though that the WP is saying that NOT arming the rebels earlier

is with the NSA and other factors why Obama is met with less than support in Europe. Obviously they are still all in on it. I wish we would have tried to work with Assad, who before there were armed riots, was not any worse than Saudi Arabia. Even if we had realized where this was going and had the peace conference a year and a half ago -- likely leaving Assad in power, but getting reforms and maybe the promise he would not run again, things would have been better.

I wonder if part of the problem is a stupid reason that they feel an obligation to the rebels they pushed to rebel, who would be destroyed if the US walked away.

[Nihil]

8. First time for everything I suppose ...

> I wonder if part of the problem is a stupid reason that they feel an obligation
> to the rebels they pushed to rebel, who would be destroyed if the US walked away.

Bush the Elder happily walked away from the rebels he'd sponsored at the end
of Gulf War I - knowing full well what Saddam's response would be to the uprising
who no longer had any allies ...

[John2]

9. Maybe this

is one of the reasons he is not getting support: President al-Assad gives interview to German Frankfurter Allgermeine Zeitung newspaper-SANA Syria,http://sana.sy/eng/21/2013/6/18/487994.htm.

That is the link to a recent interview, Assad gave to a German newspaper. He has been getting his side of the argument out to friendlier audiences. He does not come off as this monster, the other side is portraying. In fact, he is comming off as very intellectually well spoken, unlike a Saddam might we say. I would say if not as well but just as smart as Obama and his adversaries, when talking about his understanding of the problem.

You do not hear his side from the media in countries opposing him, like Britain, France and the United States. He definately makes serious accusations against the governments of the British and French. He also makes allegations against Saudi Arabia, Qatar,Turkey and Jordan. They are more directed at those countries than the United States. It gives the impression, Obama is the one being led by others. Including groups in the United States, that want him to invade Syria.

[karynnj]

10. Charlie Rose had a one hour interview with him around the time that John Kerry

was meeting with him. (Kerry was trashed by almost everyone for doing that - but had that imitative been allowed to flourish - rather than Petraeous' and Clinton's approach - maybe civil war could have been averted and maybe the atrocities that now make him staying in power difficult would not have happened.)