Syria welcomes Russia’s offer to put its chemical weapons under intl control

[Ichingcarpenter]

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has welcomed Russia’s call to hand control over its chemical weapons to the international community.

“Syria Arab Republic welcomes Russia’s initiative, based on the Syrian’s government care about the lives of our people and security of our country,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in response to the statement by his Russian counterpart.

“We are calling on the Syrian authorities not only agree on putting chemical weapons storages under international control, but also for its further destruction and then joining the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,” Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier.

http://rt.com/news/syria-chemical-weapons-handover-619/

[Catherina]

1. You beat me to it. Rec'd. n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Russia would get this news first not the USA newsfeeds therefore

sometimes RT is not that bad

Well lets hope this news is a start to a new beginning.

[caledesi]

17. Agree! nt

[panader0]

2. Let's hope this can start the diplomacy this F'ed up situation needs.

This will make the case to use missiles far more difficult to achieve.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Well that's it then. Cool.

No need for strikes.

Love it.

[Puzzledtraveller]

5. A set up?

It's unlikey the US will be a part of this conversation. If a military strike does occurr with out without congressional approval we will know this about more than chemical weapons IMO.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. I'm confused on your post

who is setting who up?

[Puzzledtraveller]

7. Russia and Syria are allies

If the US ignores this or rejects the idea or refuses to be a part of the conversation and happens to proceed with military intervention would this not reveal publicly that the US intentions and interests are no wholly about the use of chemical weapons?

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Yes it would but to me this seems that with this

the cards are laid out on the table for the whole world to see and even european allies would then yell foul if the US went ahead.


I think its a game changer.that the administration will have to play with

[lumpy]

69. Oh, for gods sake, Kerry (the US)has been working with the Russian to accomplish this much.

Give this country credit for what they have done to get rid of Syria's gas supplies.Hard to understand the unrelenting attempt to discredit Obama and this country on everything damned thing.

[allinthegame]

24. Funny

I saw yesterday that Kerry had floated the idea and the Russians picked on it
Stay alert

[lumpy]

71. The US has been working with the Russians to find a solution. This is most likely a joint

effort by both countries. Lets hope Syria fullycooperates.

[lumpy]

62. Assad has joined the conversation apparently. That is the important part of it. It has taken

the action of the US and Russia working together (and the much maligned Mr. Kerry) to bring assad to the bargaining table.

[Puzzledtraveller]

65. The US and Russia are working together?

http://www.france24.com/en/20130909-us-russia-clash-iaea-over-syria-nuclear-probe

[lumpy]

74. This report is concerning Syria atomic reacters. There is no indication in the article regarding

details of the clash between the two.

[Iliyah]

8. LOL - Kerry threw it out there

and Syria and Russia immediately jumped on it.

[morningfog]

10. This is a good thing.

[grahamhgreen]

44. Although Kerry said, it's not gonna happen, will never happen.

[Union Scribe]

59. They never seem to remember that part!

[grahamhgreen]

63. He really said it as a throw away line, I imagine they're quite upset right now.

[Adrahil]

11. Could be a way out....

.... but I fear it's just a delaying tactic to allow Assad more time to murder as many of his people as he can.

Still, I think it's worth hearing out. If it happens, Obama could be seen as a strategic genius.

[avaistheone1]

12. Does this mean we are not going to get our war on?

Damn.

[Heather MC]

19. I know right. I have my Lee Greenwood song ready!!!

Seriously I don’t understand how killing innocent Syrians is the proper punishment for innocent Syrians having been killed.

[99th_Monkey]

13. Syria is seriously off-script here. WTF is going on?

Next thing you know, peace will start breaking out in Syria.

[Aerows]

32. I know, right?

Holy shit.

[Half-Century Man]

14. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-2

Oh please let this happen. There is nothing funnier than the face of a warmonger suffering combatis interuptus.

When I served, it was a common saying that "we go do our job, when politicians fail at theirs". Meaning the military was suppose to be the tool of last choice. That is not the case, and I'm not sure when that changed. But it would be so satisfying for actual diplomacy to work. The sound of sabers rattling in the distance is becoming wearisome.

Once again...If we really want to do something positive about chemical and biological weapons: lead the way, destroy ours, all of them. Very publicly with great fanfare destroy our weaponized stores. Walk the walk first, then talk the talk. Stay at the top of the game informationally, but not practically. We have the world largest military and the most nuclear weapons, we can retaliate for a chemical/biological attack.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

21. And destroy our nuclear weapons as well,

these are weapons that cannot be used.

How can the US demand that a country has no right to possess them, when we won't give up ours?

Oh that's right, we're special, were not bound under international laws such as the World Court, or any other treaties that we don't want to follow.

[Half-Century Man]

22. One step at a time

first chemical
second biological
third nuclear
each step is separate and takes "X" period of time.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

50. We have been in that first step on nuclear weapons

for well over 50 yrs. now, in fact we are not following treaties that we have already signed and agreed on.

[Half-Century Man]

54. I know, spent my High school years in the worlds 3d most heavily nuclear armed place

North Dakota.
Minot Air Force Base
Strategic Air Command
Hundreds of milti-warheaded ICBMS

[lumpy]

77. Read about the process to destroy chemical weapons. It's interesting and can possibly

explain why the US has destroyed all but 10 percent of US chemical weapons.

[L0oniX]

26. We won't even tear gas or pepper spray our own might be a good start. n/t

[Half-Century Man]

30. The pepper charged bean-bag shot gun rounds gotta go too

[lumpy]

75. 90 percent of US chemical weapons have been destroyed. 10 percent remain consisting of

unusable, aging, rusting etc.weapons requiring very special handling. The process of getting rid of those weapons is very time consuming and dangerous; They are very tricky to handle, put under extreme heat until completely nullified.

[Half-Century Man]

89. If so, then we comply with the international standard

UN Weapons Inspectors, with unlimited access.
What we demand, we support universally.

PROVE IT

[TommyCelt]

15. Don't look now...

...but President Obama and Secretary Kerry are being taken to school...Diplomacy 101.

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. Don't look now...but Obama and Kerry just took you to school

American poker 101!

Tommy "celt"

yeah I am starting to get wise...

[Aerows]

33. Personally, I don't care who goes to school

as long as it makes for a more peaceful damn world.

[TommyCelt]

35. Excellent point!

I don't care whose nose get politically bloodied. As long as diplomacy is being emplyed rather than missiles.

[Aerows]

37. Precisely n/t

[VanillaRhapsody]

48. told you...underestimate at your own peril...

[TommyCelt]

56. Peril? From where? <nt>

[VanillaRhapsody]

57. It's an old American saying

of course you wouldn't know it..

[TommyCelt]

58. Of course....

I forgot. I'm some guy on some Bristish blog too. Apologies.

[VanillaRhapsody]

60. I have no idea if you are posting on British blogs...

but you are posting here...

[TommyCelt]

66. Yes...I am posting here (duh)

However, you previously posted the following to me...

"a least I am not over at British political blogs trying to pass....Should I start practicing spelling "colour" and "favour" and calling apartments flats and umbrellas bumbershoots and stollers prams just in case?"

Why?

[VanillaRhapsody]

87. Yeah I did and I think it is obvious...

[TommyCelt]

88. OK...you just go right on thinking the "obvious"

Enjoy!

[Aerows]

70. I'd be glad to be wrong

in this instance, and I will not be ashamed to say that I was, if it turns out I am.

[lumpy]

78. Thanks... my thoughts.

[TommyCelt]

34. Whatever you say...

..vanilla "rhapsody"

[VanillaRhapsody]

49. Yeah...I say...

a least I am not over at British political blogs trying to pass....Should I start practicing spelling "colour" and "favour" and calling apartments flats and umbrellas bumbershoots and stollers prams just in case?

[TommyCelt]

55. If you believe I'm posting somewhere else under this handle

...or any other "celt" handle, you're mistaken. I post here and HuffPo under TommyCelt, and nowhere else. On a couple of religious blogs, I use my full name which doesn't include 'celt' anywhere.

You're confused.

[VanillaRhapsody]

64. nope not confused...nor is that what I am thinking...

I think you know...

[TommyCelt]

67. Your thinking seems flawed.

Care to let me in on it?

[Capt. Obvious]

72. I believe he's accusing you of being a previously banned member

which would be ironic.

[TommyCelt]

73. Never been banned...

This is the only handle/membership I've ever had or used here.

So I reiterate...VR, you're confusing me with someone else.

[grahamhgreen]

45. I forgot that every one of Obamas screw ups are actually a brilliant move, thanks;)

[VanillaRhapsody]

51. so it looks like one of the final holdouts ...of the 2% who are holdouts...

of chemical weapons has offered to hand them over....and You call that a "screw up"? One of 5 remaining countries with chemical weapons offers to give them up...but that wasn't calculated...that was a "screw up"

Yeah right...

[grahamhgreen]

53. Ummm, Obama doesn't want him to hand them over, he wants to shoot off big daddy's popgun, remember?

[lumpy]

80. Disgusting post. Why do you hate Obama ?

[avaistheone1]

52. Take comfort

at least Obama doesn't have to continue to sweat bullets that he is caught up in own recklessness.

[lumpy]

81. Thanks. Hope you do have faith in possibilities. Some people on DU continue to try

and degrade Obama and US efforts to find a solution to the use of CWs.

[avaistheone1]

61. LOL

I think this has turned into a nightmare for Obama and Kerry. It was a good thing Putin came up with this idea. It proves that there was more room for negotiation...there was no need for the rush to war.

[lumpy]

79. Just won't give up on Obama will ya'. Your convoluting the truth about who's idea it was is

just a slam against the administration as usual. Like Kerry and Obama haven't worked with Russia to bring about a solution....We needed Russian support in this fight and looks like we got it.

[Snake Plissken]

16. I guess we're gonna have to get a little more creative in order to start this war, now that WMDs are

are out.

Well, back to the drawing board.

[Heather MC]

20. but what about the CHILDREN!!!!

[L0oniX]

25. The ones in Newtown?

[Aerows]

38. Some won't rest until there are dead children

all over the world. It's disgusting, and I think pretty much everyone knows it, too. This is a victory for the world, not for any particular party.

[lumpy]

82. Snaky snark

[Autumn]

18. This is good news.

Recommended

[L0oniX]

23. ...but ...but ...the senate is going to have a key test vote on it ...anyway.

[Marrah_G]

27. Of course some will say this was all Obama's brilliant master plan

[VanillaRhapsody]

29. Of course it is...

I have heard he is an astute poker player. Being good at poker means you know how to "force your opponents hands".

As I said....underestimate at your peril.

[Aerows]

39. I don't care if it was Satan himself

that came up with the idea to quit killing people.

[VanillaRhapsody]

40. Of course....not surprised...

[Aerows]

46. You shouldn't be

Most sane people don't like the idea of bombing the fuck out of a country.

[winter is coming]

31. Will that be before or after North Korea gives up its nukes? n/t

[lumpy]

83. Who knows ? would be a comfort though if all gave up the nukes

[Catherina]

36. Philip J. Crowley: "Putin just offered Obama a lifeboat"

Philip J. Crowley ?@PJCrowley 39m

#Putin just offered #Obama a lifeboat, a diplomatic solution that allows the postponement of a vote on military action he may well lose.

[VanillaRhapsody]

42. Or on the other hand...Assad a

he is the one gassing civilians...

but of course PJ Crowley didn't think of that one...

[Avalux]

84. Let's operate from the premise that Obama never wanted military action.

This is what I believe, which means he tricked Putin (of all people!) into orchestrating a diplomatic solution. Of course Obama will not get Congressional support, they have vowed to never agree with him on anything.

Obama is not stupid, and he didn't suddenly turn into a warmonger.

[lumpy]

85. Credit is also due the US for leading the cause of ridding Syria of chemical weapons.

Don't know who in hell Mr. Crowley is, but the lifeboat has come in handy for Russia also,( Putin is the one who plays footsie with Syria). In the end it doesn't matter who initiated the idea. Whenever the end comes.

[AngryAmish]

41. If true this is the best probable outcome

If a side wins in Syria there is going to be genocide (it already is happening). Put the chemical genie back in the bottle, everyone saves face and we can go on ignoring Syria.

Who wants to get back to discussing twerking?

[VanillaRhapsody]

43. I bet a bunch are "twerking" on it...

I predict a sudden rush of new OP's on anything BUT Syria...

[lumpy]

86. Had that same thought. But some people are verbally holding out still trying to give Obama

and Kerry black eyes. They can't all be right wingers can they?

[Waiting For Everyman]

68. They "welcome" it? Sure, I'll just bet they do!

(If only someone had offered to take his chemical weapons off his hands before, then he wouldn't have been forced to get rid of them by using them on his own people. That Assad is such a laugh-riot.)

Assad and Putin both look desperate -- that's the word that comes to mind. Assad, about to implode; and Putin like he's holding a hot potato, he can't wait to get rid of.

So as we see, Putin could've solved this long ago by putting pressure on Assad. That makes Putin responsible for the whole mess that ensued. Nobody's going to say that of course because they want Putin "inside the tent, pissing out" not the other way around. For his part, it also shows that Putin might rather have it that way too. I'm sure it's more fun hanging with the G20 than with the international pariahs.

[Mr.Bill]

76. Obama: "Chill, I got this."

Drops mike, walks out of room.