Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
(Reuters) - Syria's government hailed as a "victory" a Russian-brokered deal that has averted U.S. strikes, while President Barack Obama defended a chemical weapons pact that the rebels fear has bolstered their enemy in the civil war.
President Bashar al-Assad's jets and artillery hit rebel suburbs of the capital again on Sunday in an offensive that residents said began last week when Obama delayed air strikes in the face of opposition from Moscow and his own electorate.
Speaking of the U.S.-Russian deal, Syrian minister Ali Haidar told Moscow's RIA news agency: "These agreements ... are a victory for Syria, achieved thanks to our Russian friends.
Though not close to Assad, Ali was the first Syrian official to react to Saturday's accord in Geneva by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Bridging an angry East-West rift over Syria, they agreed to back a nine-month U.N. programme to destroy Assad's chemical arsenal.
The deal has put off the threat of air strikes Obama made after poison gas killed hundreds of Syrians on August 21, although he has stressed that force remains an option if Assad reneges. U.S. forces remain in position. Russia still opposes military action but now backs possible U.N. sanctions for non-compliance.
French President Francois Hollande called for a U.N. resolution on Syria backed by the threat of punitive action to be voted by the end of this week. Hollande also said the option of military strikes must remain on the table.
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
Normally, Liberals aren't making blanket statements like that unless their guy was the one who got the short end of the stick. You may as well be moving the goalposts. Putin had more foreign policy acumen than did Obama. It showed.
I mean, Obama was doing all of his saber rattling "oh I'm gonna bomb you if you cross my red line" only to be rebuffed by Putin's plan of chemical disarmament. It made him look like an idiot. That is an undeniable fact of life.
I don't think Obama ever really wanted to bomb Syria. What Putin did was hand him a convenient out. As theDoctorisin said, what it did was allowed all sides to claim "victory". I somehow doubt Putin's offer was ever really news to the Obama administration. Chances are it had already been discussed secretly behind closed doors.
If liberals here are claiming Obama won regarding Syria, why is Assad claiming victory?
(Reuters) - Syria's government hailed as a "victory" a Russian-brokered deal that has averted U.S. strikes, while President Barack Obama defended a chemical weapons pact that the rebels fear has bolstered their enemy in the civil war.
President Bashar al-Assad's jets and artillery hit rebel suburbs of the capital again on Sunday in an offensive that residents said began last week when Obama delayed air strikes in the face of opposition from Moscow and his own electorate.
Speaking of the U.S.-Russian deal, Syrian minister Ali Haidar told Moscow's RIA news agency: "These agreements ... are a victory for Syria, achieved thanks to our Russian friends.
Though not close to Assad, Ali was the first Syrian official to react to Saturday's accord in Geneva by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Bridging an angry East-West rift over Syria, they agreed to back a nine-month U.N. programme to destroy Assad's chemical arsenal.
The deal has put off the threat of air strikes Obama made after poison gas killed hundreds of Syrians on August 21, although he has stressed that force remains an option if Assad reneges. U.S. forces remain in position. Russia still opposes military action but now backs possible U.N. sanctions for non-compliance.
French President Francois Hollande called for a U.N. resolution on Syria backed by the threat of punitive action to be voted by the end of this week. Hollande also said the option of military strikes must remain on the table.
Assad government hails 'victory' in arms deal, troops attack | Reuters
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
Normally, Liberals aren't making blanket statements like that unless their guy was the one who got the short end of the stick. You may as well be moving the goalposts. Putin had more foreign policy acumen than did Obama. It showed.
I mean, Obama was doing all of his saber rattling "oh I'm gonna bomb you if you cross my red line" only to be rebuffed by Putin's plan of chemical disarmament. It made him look like an idiot. That is an undeniable fact of life.
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
Normally, Liberals aren't making blanket statements like that unless their guy was the one who got the short end of the stick. You may as well be moving the goalposts. Putin had more foreign policy acumen than did Obama. It showed.
I mean, Obama was doing all of his saber rattling "oh I'm gonna bomb you if you cross my red line" only to be rebuffed by Putin's plan of chemical disarmament. It made him look like an idiot. That is an undeniable fact of life.
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
An ideal political, diplomatic solution allows all parties to claim "victory".
Normally, Liberals aren't making blanket statements like that unless their guy was the one who got the short end of the stick. You may as well be moving the goalposts. Putin had more foreign policy acumen than did Obama. It showed.
I mean, Obama was doing all of his saber rattling "oh I'm gonna bomb you if you cross my red line" only to be rebuffed by Putin's plan of chemical disarmament. It made him look like an idiot. That is an undeniable fact of life.
Normally, Liberals aren't making blanket statements like that unless their guy was the one who got the short end of the stick. You may as well be moving the goalposts. Putin had more foreign policy acumen than did Obama. It showed.
I mean, Obama was doing all of his saber rattling "oh I'm gonna bomb you if you cross my red line" only to be rebuffed by Putin's plan of chemical disarmament. It made him look like an idiot. That is an undeniable fact of life.
