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International Herald Tribune, France

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The 'Obscene' Diplomatic Pirouette Over Syria (Le Temps, Switzerland)

 

"The surprise initiative is probably less improvised than it looks. It is a way for Russians and Americans to escape a situation that for both, is akin to being caught in a hornet's nest - even if for different reasons. ... The U.S. is extirpated from an adventurous use of force it didn't want; Russia is freed of the role of obstructionist, amoral power, at risk of facing a deployment of enemy missiles; and the rest of the planet is relieved of the burden of having to take a stand. But do state calculations like these suffice to erase the fact of Syrian's 100,000 dead and two million refugees?"

 

By Luis Lema

 

Translated By Pierre Guittard

 

September 12, 2013

 

Switzerland - Le Temps - Original Article (French)

Syrian despot Bashar al-Assad: Can't live with him, can't live without him.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Syria crisis - Diplomatic push for plan to secure weapons, Sept. 12, 00:02:18RealVideo

The incredible pirouette performed Monday by Russian diplomacy is very good news. If it succeeds, Syria will, in the end, no longer possess chemical weapons. The world would obviously be better off. But the exploit is also an extraordinary admission of failure. One must be decidedly near drowning to cling so tightly to a life raft so full of holes that it offers no guarantee of getting you where you intended to go in the first place.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

The surprise initiative is probably less improvised than it looks. It is a way for Russians and Americans to escape a situation that for both sides, is akin to being caught in a hornet's nest - even if for different reasons .

 

The United States is extirpated from an adventurous use of force it didn't want; Russia is freed of the role of obstructionist, amoral power, at risk of facing a deployment of enemy missiles; and the rest of the planet is relieved of the burden of having to take a stand. But do state calculations like these suffice to erase the fact of Syrian's 100,000 dead and two million refugees? Are they likely to prevent the spread of the war to neighboring countries and a proliferation of extremism? Even confining oneself to the sole framework of chemical warfare, and in so doing ignoring this "other" war that continues to rage in Syria, these have to be considered meager results: will the simple threat of seizing Syria's chemical weapons stockpile deter another state from using its own poison gas tomorrow?

 

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Admittedly, diplomacy will replace missiles and the U.N. will find itself at the center of the action. This much is clear: Russia is back in the game and a dialogue scan resume. The comings and goings of any inspectors into the field, a fixed calendar that Damascus will be bound by, and the door to this abominable Syrian door will be closed.  All this may well alter the dynamics, and who knows, revive some of the diplomatic possibilities, such as Geneva II.

 

In the past , however, the U.N.'s mere presence has not always been a guarantee of success in Syria or anywhere else. The distinction between chemical weapons and other "acceptable" arms is consistent with international law. It is nevertheless obscene in the face of a conflict of such intensity which holds such danger for the future. If it were to achieve its purpose, the diplomatic pirouette would be impressive, but will nevertheless remain just that: a pirouette.

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Sept. 12, 2013, 11:39am