The US is spinning this as a breakthrough, however, the agreement is closest to Russia’s original text
“The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have reached an agreement on a draft resolution that would require Syria to turn over its chemical weapons but does not impose severe consequences if it fails to comply.The resolution is the first time that the world’s major powers have acted in concert”
True enough, but, only because the NATO nutter nations were hell bent on killing as many civilians with their smart bombs as possible
“The main sticking point in reaching a deal was provisions in the resolution on how to enforce the agreement to secure and destroy Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons. The United States had pushed for a text in which the consequences would fall under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows the authorization of military force. Russia strongly opposed that.
To secure Russia’s support, Western powers agreed to a resolution that is legally binding but does not contain an automatic recourse to possible military force or sanctions if Syria fails to comply”.
Still, a U.S. State Department official called the deal a “breakthrough.”
“The Russians have agreed to support a strong, binding and enforceable resolution that unites the pressure and focus of the international community on the Syrian regime to ensure the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons,” the official said.”
Since the text for this resolution was closest to the Russian proposal .....why wouldn’t they support it?
Instead, it says the council can meet again and invoke Chapter 7, but that would require another resolution, which Russia could veto.
Who is this Con Coughlin? His oped while interesting is over the top with spin and pushes the cold war meme, but still, he points out the obvious. The round in this battle went to Russia and China. Both nations, having every reason in the world to not support the heavy handed resolution being pushed by the NATO global armyMy comments italicized and in blue. Everything else belongs to Con.
But the key to this disturbing realignment (disturbing realignment? Why? ) in the global power structure is clearly visible in the draft of the Security Council resolution on Syria, which entirely reflects Russia's interests (does it entirely reflect Russia’s interests? How about China’s interests? The rest of the planet? Is it only the US, Britain , France and Israel that matter?)at the expense of those of the Western powers. America, Britain and France, the three Western members of the five permanent members of the Council, wanted the option to take punitive action against the Assad regime if, as most observers expect, Damascus does not fully comply with the U.N.'s requirements. (Nor has anyone considered how U.N. inspectors can be expected to examine and neutralise stockpiles of chemical weapons in the midst of a civil war.)
Well, Con, the Saudi/Israeli partners to kill can call their dogs off. You know, stop the money and weapons flow. That will dry things up pretty quick, Con.
“But Russia is determined to prevent any form of military intervention in Syria, and to that end insisted that the resolution be watered down to the effect that, if Assad fails to comply, then the issue will be referred back to the U.N. where, as we know from history, it will be subsumed by the organisation's bureaucratic complacency.
In short, Russia has won the diplomatic battle, and the Western powers, after all their threats to bomb Assad into submission, have been made to look weak and impotent”
So, important for perception management purposes that the West project themselves as omnipotent, right?
“Apply this paradigm to Iran and it is not hard to see why Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has decided to embark on a charm offensive with the West. Just like Syria, the Russians have no intention of allowing the Western powers – and that includes Israel – to take military action against Iran over its decade-long refusal to cooperate with the U.N. over its controversial nuclear programme” (?)
Con, is clearly a con man. I guess that’s how he got his name. Iran has complied all along with inspections and has cooperated with the UN, over its uncontroversial nuclear programme