Russian ultimatum to Assad: Give up chemical arsenal – or face US attack alone

Russian ultimatum to Assad: Give up chemical arsenal – or face US attack alone
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report September 9, 2013, 7:22 PM (IDT)


Russian FM Sergey Lavrov: Assad must surrender chemical arsenal

In an unexpected turn of events along the road to a US military strike on Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday afternoon, Sept. 9  that he had urged Syria to hand over its nuclear arsenal to international control if that would stop an American attack. Moscow had lost no time in picking up the gauntlet thrown down by US Secretary of State John Kerry in London a short time before.

Asked if there were steps the Syrian president could take to avert an American-led attack, Kerry replied: “Sure, he could turn over every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week — turn it over, all of it, without delay and allow the full and total accounting.” 

The Obama administration had in this way given Bashar Assad a week to turn in his chemical weapons to an international team that would no doubt be put together by the US, Russia and the United Nations.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who arrived in Moscow earlier Monday, was informed that the Kremlin expected a positive and expeditious answer from President Assad. Within the hour, he came back with a welcome for the Russian “proposal” to place his country’s chemical weapons under international control. But he said nothing about letting the arsenal be moved out of the country and destroyed , as both Lavrov and Kerry specified.

Sunday, DEBKAfile reported that a secret US proposal had been presented to Assad and that negotiations were in progress on a deal for a way out of the crisis generated by the chemical attack east of Damascus on Aug. 21. The transfer of Syria’s entire chemical stockpile to international control was a part of that proposition.

 Our military sources add that Assad was in no position to flatly rebuff the Russian ultimatum; only to try and maneuver and haggle to buy time. If Moscow stops the air corridor lifting military supplies to Damascus, the Syrian army will quickly run out of ordnance for fighting the rebels.

Those Russians are just wonderful....

Syria welcomes international control over chemical weapons

After meeting Syrian counterpart, Russian foreign minister says he’ll push Assad to give up WMDs to avoid airstrikes; Kerry: Attack can be averted if Damascus agrees to cede ‘every single bit’ of its chemical arsenal by week’s end

By AP and TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF September 9, 2013, 6:14 pm Updated: September 9, 2013, 6:59 pm 10


Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomes his Syrian counterpart Walid Moallem (left), prior to talks in Moscow on Monday, September 9, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Ivan Sekretarev)

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem on Monday welcomed Moscow’s proposal to submit Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles to international control, Reuters reported. The surprise announcement came following a meeting between Moallem Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, hours after US Secretary of State John Kerry said such a move could avert a limited US strike on the country in retaliation for a lethal August 21 chemical weapons attack.

“Syria welcomes the Russian proposal out of concern for the lives of the Syrian people, the security of our country and because it believes in the wisdom of the Russian leadership that seeks to avert American aggression against our people,” Moallem said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, a key US ally, reacted favorably to Syria’s declaration, saying the notion of putting the Assad regime’s stockpile of chemical weapons under international supervision was “a big step forward.” He warned, however, that “we have to be careful, though, to make sure this is not a distraction tactic to discuss something else rather than the problem on the table.”

Earlier Monday, Kerry said that Syrian President Bashar Assad could resolve the crisis surrounding the alleged use of chemical weapons by his forces by surrendering control of “every single bit” of his arsenal to the international community by the end of the week.

Kerry added that he thought Assad “isn’t about to do it.”

However, Lavrov, who had just wrapped up a round of talks in Moscow with Moallem, said that Moscow would try to convince the Syrians to do so.

“If the establishment of international control over chemical weapons in that country would allow avoiding strikes, we will immediately start working with Damascus,” Lavrov said.

“We are calling on the Syrian leadership to not only agree to placing chemical weapons storage sites under international control, but also on its subsequent destruction and fully joining the treaty on prohibition of chemical weapons,” he said.

His statement followed media reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who discussed Syria with President Barack Obama during the G20 summit in St. Petersburg last week, sought to negotiate a deal that would have Assad hand over control of chemical weapons.

The Russian move comes as Obama, who has accused Assad of killing over 1,400 of his own people in the chemical attack last month, is pressing for a limited strike against the Syrian government. Assad has denied responsibility for the attack, insisting that it had been launched by the rebels to drag the US into the war.

Lavrov and Moallem said after their talks that UN chemical weapons experts should complete their probe and present their findings to the United Nations Security Council.

Moallem said his government was ready to host the UN team, and insisted that Syria is ready to use all channels to convince the Americans that it wasn’t behind the attack.

He added that Syria was ready for “full cooperation with Russia to remove any pretext for aggression.”

Neither minister, however, offered any evidence to back their claim of rebel involvement in the chemical attack.

Lavrov said that Russia would continue to promote a peaceful settlement and may try to convene a gathering of all Syrian opposition figures to join in negotiations. He added that a US attack on Syria would deal a fatal blow to peace efforts.

Lavrov wouldn’t say how Russia could respond to a possible US attack on Syria, saying that “we wouldn’t like to proceed from a negative scenario and would primarily take efforts to prevent a military intervention.”

Putin said that Moscow would keep providing assistance to Syria in case of a US attack, but he and other Russian officials have made clear that Russia has no intention of engaging in hostilities.


http://www.timesofisrael.com/russia-vows-to-push-syria-to-cede-chemical-weapons/

Thank goodness they all found a way out without too much egg on the face.
This was getting really embarrassing:

 
Kerry: We're Talking About An "Unbelievably Small" Effort In Syria

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/09/09/kerry_were_talking_about_an_unbelievably_small_effort_in_syria.html

Iraqi style' politics just isn't going to cut the mustard anymore.
Neither will 9-11 politics. Somebody should let them know before
they try again.
[I don't know as any cause for bravado will actually have staying power,
but it feels good for the moment anyway.]

Game over, war averted.....

Syria has agreed to hand over chemical weapons on the advice of Russia

Sep09
on September 9, 2013
Posted In: Middle East, Wars And Rumors Of War




Syria has voiced support for the head of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called for the transfer of chemical weapons under international control.

This was stated by the Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem Lavrov. ”I declare that the Syrian Arab Republic welcomed the Russian initiative, based on the Syrian leadership cares about the lives of our citizens and the security of our country,” – he said.

See also: Strike on Syria will become a gasoline end of the world

As reported in “ Pravda.Ru ”formerly Russian minister called on the Syrian leadership” not only agree on a statement of storage of chemical weapons under international control, but also its subsequent destruction. ”

On Monday, September 9, the U.S. Congress returns from vacation, and at 23:00, Moscow time, will discuss the resolution that approves the U.S. plan to invade Syria. According to preliminary reports, the House of Representatives is unlikely to approve it, for fear of another major war in the Middle East.

This is a chess game for them.  Kerry's move was a blunder and Putin simply took advantage of it.  The next move belongs to the satanist global elites, which will no doubt be soon.

Obama: Russia's Proposal is Significant, but I'm Skeptical
Obama in media blitz: Russia's proposal regarding Syria is a positive development, but I'm skeptical Syria would comply.


By Elad Benari
First Publish: 9/10/2013, 2:45 AM


President Barack Obama
Reuters

President Barack Obama’smedia blitz began on Monday evening, as he gave interviews to six television networks in which he presented his case on Syria.
In his interview with NBC News, Obama called a Russian proposal for Syria to turn over control of its chemical weapons to international monitors in order to avoid a military strike a “potentially positivedevelopment” that could represent a “significant breakthrough.”

At the same time, he said, he remains skeptical that the Syrian government would follow through on its obligations based on its recent track record.
“Between the statements that we saw from the Russians-- the statement today from the Syrians-- this represents a potentially positivedevelopment,” said Obama. “We are going to run this to ground. John Kerry will be talking to his Russian counterpart. We're going to make sure that we see how serious these proposals are.”

“And my preference consistently has been a diplomatic resolution to this problem,” he added. “But what we have to also keep in mind is that Syria has large chemical weapon stockpiles-- they have been in denial mode for quite some time-- we have been in discussions for a long time now about trying to do something about these chemical weapons with the Russians as well as the Syrians and we haven't gotten movement.”

Obama told NBC that he believes the Russian proposal and Syria’s agreement to it were a result of the United States’ threat to attack in Syria as a punitive measure to a chemical attack on August 21.

“I think what we're seeing is that a credible threat of a military strike from the United States, supported potentially by a number of other countries around the world has given them pause and makes them consider whether or not they would make this move. And if they do, then this could potentially be a significant breakthrough. But we have to be skeptical because this is not how we've seen them operate-- over the last couple a years,” he said.

In an interview with CNN, Obama said the U.S. would “run this to ground," when asked about the Russian proposal, adding that the United States will work with Syrian ally Russia and the international community "to see if we can arrive at something that is enforceable and serious."

Obama said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the Syrian chemical weapons and the U.S. push for a military response at last week's G20 summit in St. Petersburg.

In his interview with ABC News, Obama said that if Assad gives up his chemical weapons, a military strike would "absolutely" be on pause.

"I consider this a modestly positive development," he said when asked whether Syria's apparent willingness to relinquish control of its chemical weapons would prevent a U.S. strike.

"Let's see if we can come up with language that avoids a strike but accomplishes our key goals to make sure that these chemical weapons are not used," the president said.

Earlier Monday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quick to jump on the bandwagon following comments by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who told a press conference in London that Assad could avoid a strike on his country by giving up "every single bit" of his chemical weapons arsenal to the international community within a week.

Lavrov then called on Assad’s regime to give up its chemical weapons stockpile as a way of avoiding military intervention by Western states.

Kerry later clarified, however, that his comments about Syria were rhetorical and not a proposal.

France responded to the Russian proposal by saying it was acceptable under certain conditions.

These conditions, said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, include a UN Security Council resolution, with consequences if Assad failed to comply.
Assad has denied there is any evidence that his regime used chemical weapons and suggested that if attacked its own allies would respond with force of their own.

Obama’s six interviews are part of his bid to convince Congress to support a military strike in Syria.

Last Wednesday, a key Senate panel voted to authorize the use of force in response to a chemical attack in Damascus on August 21, which killed more than 1,400 people.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 10-7, with one senator voting present, to approve a military strike over the attack, which the U.S. has said was committed by President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. The full Senate is expected to vote on the measure this week.

Obama will also travel to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to sell his plan for a Syria strike to Senators before the vote.

The visit to Capitol Hill will take place just hours before a scheduled national address from the Oval Office.

Obama: I might lose Congressional vote on Syria




US president sees proposal to relinquish chemical weapons to international control as ‘potentially positive development’; Senate delays vote to authorize force

http://www.timesofisrael.com/

Assad is off the US military hook and keeps his chemical weapons. Israel is the loser of this round

DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis September 10, 2013, 12:38 PM (IDT)



Chemical shell shrapnel in Saraqeb, Idlib

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon have until now patted  themselves on the back for striking a balanced and cautious stance which kept Israel secure in the course of the nearly three-year old Syrian conflict. However, President Barack Obama’s decision to put US military action against Syria on hold - unveiled in six US TV interviews Tuesday, Sept. 10 - leaves Israel exposed to a major threat: Bashar Assad’s chemical warfare capability which is left intact.

By buying into Moscow’s proposal to place Syria’s chemical arsenal under international oversight (picked up from a possible throwaway comment by US Secretary of State John Kerry), Obama has in fact opened the door to the “Iranian syndrome.”

Yet another weapon of mass destruction is now loose in the Middle East.  Assad can dip into Tehran’s two decades of bamboozling international inspectors and concealing its nuclear weapons program and pick up endless tricks to keep his chemical arsenal far from “international control” – not to mention destruction.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) doesn’t even have a mechanism for monitoring CW. It would need many months or years – if ever - to dig through a mountain of bureaucracy and build one and muster expert personnel for the task. By then, the chemical arsenal will be well distributed and hidden in inaccessible locations – a project the Syrian government embarked on two weeks ago when America was still believed to be genuinely on track for a military strike. The monitors would also need the Damascus government’s consent to carry out inspections.

DEBKAfile’s military sources report that the 20 locations in which the poison gas containers were hidden two weeks ago had grown by this week to fifty.

Most international intelligence agencies in the West and the Middle East were relying on Israel’s clandestine services to keep track of the whereabouts of the concealed CW. It was taken for granted that when the Syrian war reached a point at which the Syrian ruler used his chemical weapons, the US and its allies, including Israel, would deploy special forces for covert operations to destroy them.

Netanyahu and Ya’alon must now decide whether to continue this painstaking covert effort for updating the map of concealed chemical weapons stores, now that President Obama has put military action on a back burner. It will be much harder now that he has given Assad leeway for moving the stocks around from place to place to hoodwink secret watchers.

It is no wonder, therefore, that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javed Zarif Tuesday joined the Assad regime in welcoming Moscow’s proposal:  Syria has joined Iran and North Korea on the list of WMD possessors which are safe from US military punishment.

For Israel this is a fiasco. The Netanyahu government’s rationale for sticking to the Obama administration’s line on the Syrian conflict was that it would eventually bring about the break-up - or at least the weakening - of the Iranian-Syrian-Hizballah axis.

But now, President Obama has led his Syria strategy into a blind alley, leaving the axis stronger than ever before and Israel in the lurch.

After using massive quantities of poison gas to kill hundreds of civilians with impunity, Bashar Assad will not hesitate to go forward with his next objective, the capture of Aleppo, Syria’s biggest town.

For months, Israel tried to convince Washington of the vital importance of keeping Aleppo out of Assad’s hands, because it is the ultimate game changer of the civil war that would award ultimate victory to the Assad regime and its allies, Iran, Russia and Hizballah.

Now that the threat of an imminent US attack has been lifted, the Syrian ruler’s way is open to win Aleppo, with his chemical arsenal intact. It is clear that Israel is the loser of this round.

Haha! I will never believe he gave up a single firecracker. I'm certainly not taking Putins word for it!
He's taking dictator Bambi for a ride.

Bulls eye IMHO.

Give up his aging stockpiles and manufacture a bunch more after the armada has sailed home. They made endless fun of Bush re: Saddam and WMD, but he GASSED a million Kurds so he had chemical weapons. More than likely his old stockpiles are what's floating around at the moment.

Delfi wrote:

Haha! I will never believe he gave up a single firecracker. I'm certainly not taking Putins word for it!
He's taking dictator Bambi for a ride.