Putin Sets New Condition on Syrian Chemical Weapons Plan
Russian President Vladimir Putin set a condition that endangers the diplomatic initiative to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons, saying it depends on the U.S. and other nations renouncing the use of force against Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Russia’s effort to reach a deal “makes sense and can function and work only in the case that we hear that the American side -- and all that support the U.S. in this situation -- renounce the use of force,” Putin said, according to a statement in Russian today on the Kremlin’s website.
Now this is a serious geopolitical chess match. Chess is not a game where you can really score a game in progress. The winner is determined by the final outcome. Putin has doubtless gained points in many parts of the world by appearing to hold the prospect of an olive branch. The big three of the west put up a show of get tough and now Putin has called then on their move.
Since the public in the US, UK and France has shown very little support for an armed initiative, Putin is probably betting that they couldn't actually pull it off. The UK is already on the bench. Maybe it's tennis instead of chess.