Syria 'welcomes' proposal to put chem weapons under international control

[cali]

Syria on Monday embraced a Russian proposal for Bashar al-Assad to put his nation's chemical weapons under international control as the United States considers possible military action over an alleged poison gas attack last month.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem told reporters in Moscow on Monday that his nation "welcomes" a statement from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said his country would urge Syria to take that step if it would avert a U.S. military response.

The comments came as Secretary of State John Kerry also seemed to endorse a similar scenario.

Assad "could turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week," Kerry said during a news conference with British Foreign Secretary William Hague. "But he isn't about to do it and it can't be done obviously."

<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/09/politics/syria-kerry/

[KoKo]

1. Could have been behind the scenes negotiating for Kerry to be able

to say: "But he isn't about to do it and it can't be done obviously"

Kerry making that statement and Putin jumping on it followed by Ban-Ki-Moon's endorsement and now the Syrian Foreign Ministry agreeing all in quick succession is
hopeful that a solution can be reached.

The House vote wasn't looking good, the polling was terrible and not just here in US.

So, I wonder if there wasn't some very tough negotiations going on last night to try to step this back so that all sides look good.

Don't know about the strategy for Charlie Rose to interview Assad to appear tomorrow night before President's speech. But, maybe that fit in somewhere with what might have been fierce "behind the scenes" discussion/negotiation.

[morningfog]

2. Is it even possible to turn them all over ina week's time? I welcome this development and am hopeful

but remain skeptical.

[KoKo]

3. UN Inspectors would go in and secure the sites with guards and then

the work of dismantling/disposing could begin.

[morningfog]

4. This is what we should have been pushing all along. Hope it comes to fruition.

Kerry gave a "deadline" though, so time will tell.