Putin published an op-ed in the NYTimes cautioning US against military strike in Syria

[bigtree]

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has published a an op-ed in the New York Times cautioning the US government against a military strike in Syria. "Events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders," the president wrote. "It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies."

Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization — the United Nations — was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again.

The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades.

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

read the rest at the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?src=twr&_r=1&

Spencer Ackerman ‏@attackerman 17m
Putin's only suggestion to the NYT op-ed editor: "Cut what you need to cut. Just please post it on 9/11."

[Junkdrawer]

1. Warns against another false-flag attack:

....

No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that militants are preparing another attack — this time against Israel — cannot be ignored.

....

[Uncle Joe]

3. I've read that it was the rebels' fault but it was an accident.

I've also read they're using children to handle munitions, I believe that's the likely cause of the chemical weapon tragedy.

[morningfog]

2. That's what I've been saying. It should be impossibly hard

to start a war. Good op-ed. Disclaimer (because there are a lot of petty disrupters here): that doesn't mean I think Putin is right in any thing else or that he is a trustworthy or honest person.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. His middle initial is V.? nt

[Catherina]

7. Vladimir Vladimirovich

Patronymics (name of the father) are usually used as middle names in Russia. You use it when you address someone, even a friend.

In his case, his father's name was Vladimir too (-ovich is just a suffix).

[LittleBlue]

5. That op-ed makes more sense than Obama's speech. nt

[Catherina]

6. Excellent Oped and excellent comments at the NYT in response

Here are a few of the highest rated ones

Rjkspeaksm, Peru, Vermont

One wishes these were the words of Mr. Obama. Then we would indeed be exceptional. Kudos to Mr. Putin.

Sept. 11, 2013 at 6:58 p.m. | Recommended 25

amber.wheeler, San Francisco, CA

This made me seriously reconsider my stance on US involvement in Syria. Putin makes very cogent points.
Sept. 11, 2013 at 6:58 p.m. | Recommended 19

B Henly, New York

Putin has consistently given the US sound advice, including on Afghanistan. I happen to believe he is also doing the Obama administration a favor by keeping Edward Snowdon quietly in Russia, thereby avoiding the media circus and political distractions that would result from having him in jail on US soil. Having Putin in effect lecture us on our mistakes may stick in the craw of some Americans, but he happens to be right in this case, in spite of his own faults.

Sept. 11, 2013 at 6:54 p.m. | Recommended35

[KittyWampus]

15. Isn't Putin wonderful? I think he should be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

[ProSense]

8. Putin says there are reports the rebels are planning a chemical attack on Israel.

He's still pushing the claim that the rebels did it.

[bigtree]

9. who brought him to this dance

. . . and is leveraging their 'exhausted' diplomacy off of his initiative with Syria?

[ProSense]

10. Assad. Are you saying he's the wrong person? n/t

[bigtree]

11. I've been saying there are atrocities on both sides of the civil conflict there

. . . which will only be inflamed and exacerbated by the introduction of U.S. military force.

I have no problem with the assignation of blame on the Syrian regime for the attacks, but, I do think the blame is moot to the question of whether the U.S. should intervene militarily.

[treestar]

12. They why didn't you

1. do something about it before it got this far?
2. let the goddam UN do something without veto?

[davidpdx]

14. Because it's easier to sit on your hands can continue to supply Syria with arms

while you get oil out of it then stepping in like a 1st rate nation and doing something about it. That's why Russia is a shithole country.

[davidpdx]

13. I'd call it pretty unprecedented that a leader of another large nation pushes foreign policy issues

in the other country's newspaper. Think the Russian media would do that? If you said yes, please go to the nearest hospital and check yourself in.

[Junkdrawer]

16. Kick

[The Link]

17. He played Obama and is rubbing his face in it for the world to see.

He doesn't believe anything he wrote. Putin's motives are clear and the administration fell right into it.

Putin is fucking Roose Bolton.