Russia's Putin sees chance to turn tables on Obama at G20.

[dipsydoodle]

Less than three months after Vladimir Putin was cast as a pariah over Syria at the last big meeting of world leaders, the Russian president has glimpsed a chance to turn the tables on Barack Obama.

The U.S. president's dilemma over a military response to an alleged poison gas attack in Syria means Obama is the one who is under more pressure going into a G20 summit in St Petersburg on Thursday and Friday.

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Yet at a G8 summit in Northern Ireland in June, Putin was isolated over his backing for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and scowled his way through talks with Obama, who later likened him to a "bored kid in the back of the classroom".

Putin has ignored the jibe and stood his ground over Assad, dismissing Obama's allegations that Syrian government forces carried out a chemical weapons attack on August 21.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/01/uk-syria-crisis-russia-g20-analysis-idUKBRE98007U20130901

[warrior1]

1. I doubt that.

Putin is a pariah.

[jakeXT]

2. start slow and easy

[TomClash]

3. What nonsense

He can say that, like most of the other G20 leaders, he is abiding by laws of his country, a concept Putin occasionally fails to grasp.

[HooptieWagon]

4. Of course Putin is going to stand by Assad.

Just like the US stood behind the Shah, Pinochet, Noriega, and its puppets and thugs.

Now, in the case of Putin/Assad, I think Russia would be willing to accept a replacement, as long as they still have a client, keep their naval base, and a pipeline isn't built. The replacement could be less brutal, and even allow some reforms. But the AQ rebels aren't fighting for a better Syria, they're fighting for a new Syria. And they are willing to fight to the last man...I don't think they are willing to negotiate. And even if they were, who do you negotiate with? There are several rebel groups, and no indication the others would abide by an agreement with one.