what is wrong with this picture?

[_3sheets2thewind]

[_The Erotic Apologist]

Putin doesn't have his shirt off?

[_Bazooka]

Whatever Putin is doing, I doubt he is doing it for any reason other than it is best for him and/or Russia.

[_Themis]

Not really. We know Putin track record of war, and why he is trying to avoid western intervention of a close ally. Putin's governing party is not that much different these days then the one they are trying to protect in Syria. If McCain had become president the US would already be bombing the Syrian regime into the ground.

[_Runtu]

Clearly Mr. Kerry was outmaneuvered by the Russians. I'd rather not be involved in another war, but it's not in anyone's interest to allow the indiscriminate use of chemical weapons. If the Russian initiative manages to accomplish that, fair enough. Their biggest concern, as I see it, is that their naval base in Syria would be threatened by regime change.

[_bcspace]

I posted this one in an off topic thread:

[_Jaybear]

I am confused.
If Obama's goal was to prevent further use by Syria of such weapons on its civilians, how was he stymied?

I sense the underlying problem is that Putin and the USSR, rather than Obama/and the US, would be getting the credit for removing the weapons.

That's strikes me as a petty concern.

[_Runtu]

I am confused.
If Obama's goal was to prevent further use by Syria of such weapons on its civilians, how was he stymied?

I sense the underlying problem is that Putin and the USSR, rather than Obama/and the US, would be getting the credit for removing the weapons.

That's strikes me as a petty concern.

Agreed.

[_zeezrom]

Which guy is more likely to become a Mormon?


Just keepin it in terrestrial...

[Guest]

Clearly Mr. Kerry was outmaneuvered by the Russians. I'd rather not be involved in another war, but it's not in anyone's interest to allow the indiscriminate use of chemical weapons. If the Russian initiative manages to accomplish that, fair enough. Their biggest concern, as I see it, is that their naval base in Syria would be threatened by regime change.

How was Kerry outmaneuvered? Why can't the US co-operate with other countries who may be in a better position to take the lead in reaching some kind of a settlement?

Having spent a lot of time in the region, I think it is about time the US took a step back and stopped trying to impose its will on sovereign states there.

Just returned from Turkey on Saturday. Earlier in the week, I happened to be driving close enough to the Syrian border to see a couple of tent encampments alongside the road (and it wasn't all that close, by the way). People are living in communal white canvas tents and under blue tarps hung between wooden poles. One of these had sprung up close to a small mosque located alongside the road.

The Turks are supplying water and food to these camps. Things looked pretty peaceful. Seems to me that Muslims have a way of getting along together and making things do under tough circumstances that one seldom sees in Christian communities under similar circumstances.

The last thing these people need is an escalation of armed conflict in the region. Allah knows Erdogan wants to see the Assad regime gone, but this is a regional conflict and the US has no responsibility to help him accomplish this.

Starting with GWB, US diplomacy in the region has been one disaster after another. Time to step back and stop interfering there.

Our team met with US Embassy officials in Ankara on Thursday and Friday and the folks we spoke with (commercial and military attache staff) seemed happy with Kerry's negotiations with the Russians. Nobody I spoke with in Turkey wants to see the US get involved militarily.

Just my $0.02.