Now is the Moment for Obama to Earn his Nobel Peace Prize (Trouw, The Netherlands)
"It was hard not to be cynical when this winner of the
Nobel Peace Prize seemed poised to unleash an escalating regional conflict. But
what's happening now is encouraging. ... Ultimately, If the game is played right,
America and Russia may even resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. Obama will then go
down in history as a deserving winner of the Nobel Prize, while Russia's
position will have greatly improved."
President Hassan Rouhani, Iran's new face to the world: If President Obama can make some headway with Iran and bring the Syria crisis to a positive conclusion, he just might deserve his Nobel Peace Prize.
In
the media, President Obama was quickly branded the loser, after Russia took the
initiative in the chemical disarmament of Syria. Indeed, Obama has maneuvered
himself into rather an awkward position.
His
main ally, the United Kingdom, dropped out. Apart from French support, there
was little international enthusiasm for a punitive expedition against Assad.
Moreover, Congressional support for intervention was in serious doubt. In
short, this episode of the Syrian crisis shows once again how politicians can
maneuver themselves into a corner. He who says that the use of chemical weapons
is a red line must intervene for the sake of his own credibility, even is at the
time that is the dumbest thing he can do.
Posted By
Worldmeets.US
So
it was hard not to be cynical when this winner of the Nobel Peace Prize seemed
poised to unleash an escalating regional conflict. But what's happening now is
encouraging. It is immaterial whether the U.S. secretary of state somewhat
misguidedly said that Assad could prevent an attack if he gave up his chemical
weapons. The fact is that this created a completely new dynamic.
Autocratically
ruled allies
The
question of course, is why Russia was so quick to embrace Kerry's suggestion. I
think the West underestimates the extent to which Russia, and China, are intent
on preventing any attack on the sovereignty of nations. Moscow and Beijing do
not believe that the U.N. Security Council is authorized to sanction regime
change. Furthermore, they are deeply suspicious of Western intentions. America
and its allies swore that they were not seeking regime change in Libya, yet
they did it anyway. Regime changes also took place in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and
Iraq. It is a deep seated fear that ultimately, America and its European allies
won't hesitate to intervene when, in their eyes, things go wrong in Chechnya,
Tibet, or the autocratically-ruled allies of Moscow or Beijing.
The
U.S.-Russian agreement itself is the epitome of diplomatic ingenuity. In one
fell swoop, the agreement ended debate on the question of guilt. Criminal
sanctions are no longer on the table for punishing Assad for the use of
chemical weapons. Sanctions will only be meted out if implementation
of the agreement is impeded by one of the parties. That may be Russian ally
Assad, or the Western supported rebels. The latter are also suspected of possessing
and deploying chemical weapons.
Ultimately,
If the game is played right, America and Russia may even resolve the Iranian
nuclear issue. Obama will then go down in history as a deserving winner of the
Nobel Prize, while Russia's position will have greatly improved.
