John Kerry Is Making Sense During a Time of Utter Madness

[bemildred]

By Charles P. Pierce Dec 17, 2015


John Kerry is recognizing reality.

"The United States and our partners are not seeking so-called regime change," Kerry told reporters in the Russian capital after meeting President Vladimir Putin. A major international conference on Syria would take place later this week in New York, Kerry announced. Kerry reiterated the U.S. position that Assad, accused by the West of massive human rights violations and chemical weapons attacks, won't be able to steer Syria out of more than four years of conflict. But after a day of discussions with Assad's key international backer, Kerry said the focus now is "not on our differences about what can or cannot be done immediately about Assad." Rather, it is on facilitating a peace process in which "Syrians will be making decisions for the future of Syria."

Meanwhile, Chris Christie is crazier than a loon.

Christie doubled down on his no-fly zone proposal, adding that the "rules of engagement would be very clear…If [Russians] go into our no-fly zone after we've warned them to stay out, then they would be shot down," the Republican contender, bumped up from the undercard Fox Business debate into CNN's main stage on Tuesday, told CBS News. "It will be made very clear to them what those rules were. If they decided to violate them, that's what the no-fly zone means - don't fly, and if they fly there, their pilot will get shot down." The New Jersey governor also expressed skepticism that Russia was truly a U.S. ally in the fight against the extremist terror group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). "I don't believe that that's the case," he said. "The fact is Russia's been stealing our lunch money the entire time from the Obama administration—from Hillary Clinton's reset button to going into Crimea and Ukraine and the activities they're doing in Syria to prop up their puppet, Assad. So ISIS is simply not being attacked by Russia. Russia is in Syria along with Iran to prop up Assad." Christie continued: "If that offends folks in the U.N. crowd, I' m sorry but America needs to assert itself again."

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40593/john-kerry-syria/

[spanone]

1. they just can't out-crazy trump .....hard as they try.

but.....

[Purveyor]

2. Clinton supports a 'no-fly zone' for Syria lest we not forget. eom

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027456194

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Kerry is one very

capable person,and the World needs this Guy. Just can not imagine all the crap he has to endure when meeting with the leadership of these Middle East Nations,especially after what the Neo Cons have done.

[blm]

5. ^^^this^^^

and with the constant BS from current GOP lineup.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Adult in the room.

This Guy gets praise from the BBC,and the Guardian,almost daily. Sure a far cry from the Previous Neo Con useless twits.

[YvonneCa]

7. The world does need Kerry. So does..

... the USA. I'm so glad he didn't just go away after 2004. 🇺🇸

[Wellstone ruled]

8. First thing I noticed as of late is,

Mr. Kerry has kept most of the Neo Cons at the State Department in check. I can imagine what the out come will be if one of these people cross him. Nuland and her Hubby Hagan are dam quite for a change and Putin is talking in positive tones. Maybe peace might break out.

[NobodyHere]

4. We don't want regime change

Yet we try to arm and train rebels?

[hollowdweller]

9. I wish Kerry would have been SOS all 8 years

He's really involved and hands on.

[mylye2222]

12. +1 here.

[betsuni]

10. Seeing him (on news) in the meeting with the Russians,

I was struck how relaxed and friendly the body language of everyone was. Kerry is liked and respected, it's very impressive.

[bemildred]

11. U.S. and Russia unite to target Islamic State's revenue sources

In a rare show of unity, the United States and Russia on Thursday led 13 nations to unanimous approval of a United Nations plan to choke off revenue sources for the militant group Islamic State, including oil, cotton and antiquities that are smuggled out of Syria to thriving black markets.

The Security Council vote, attended by finance ministers from all 15 countries, signaled that Moscow and Washington are narrowing their differences on how to confront the crisis in Syria, where Islamic State has consolidated power and territory despite more than 5,000 airstrikes from U.S., Russian and other warplanes.

"If we can get at wallet and its financial coffers in an intensified and even more aggressive way, that's going to have a material effect on their ability to prosecute war," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said.

The goal "is to put more pressure on the countries that are not acting aggressively enough, or at all, to cut off the funds flowing to terrorist

http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-us-russia-20151218-story.html