Kerry, Seeking Answers on Conflict in Syria, to Meet With Putin

[IDemo]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry is traveling to Russia on Monday to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin and discuss whether it is possible for the two sides to work together on a political solution for the conflict in Syria, American officials said.

The meeting, which will be held on Tuesday in the Black Sea city of Sochi, represents a fresh attempt by the Obama administration to pursue a political solution to Syria after years of frustrated diplomacy and deepening violence there.

It is also another twist in the United States relations with Russia. The Obama administration has sometimes sought to isolate Mr. Putin because of his military intervention in Ukraine, but has also sought to carve out areas where the two sides might cooperate.

“This trip is part of our ongoing effort to maintain direct lines of communication with senior Russian officials and to ensure U.S. views are clearly conveyed,” said the State Department, which added that the subjects will include “a full range of bilateral and regional issues, including Iran, Syria and Ukraine.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/12/world/middleeast/kerry-searching-for-answers-on-syria-conflict-to-meet-with-putin.html

[jakeXT]

1. Probably better than asking Elizabeth O'Bagy /nt

Last edited Mon May 11, 2015, 02:02 PM - Edit history (1)

[odd_duck]

2. Sorry President Assad...

Were not really bombing your country and its infrastructure, were just bombing ISIS......harrumph, harrumph

[karynnj]

3. Would you care to link to an example of the US led coalition bombing anything other than Isis

or Al Nusra? From the beginning of the anti ISIS effort, they have been clear that any bombing has been done by first "deconflicting" with Syria. Note that there has not been even one example where Syria has shot down a coalition airplane or we have bombed a government stronghold.

Note that this fact angers people like McCain, who in every hearing on this, has argued that we need to aggressively attack Assad. EVERY Obama administration official has made - what is a complicated argument but one that is true - that that would be a very bad idea at this point.

[Comrade Grumpy]

4. On the other hand, we are arming and training Syrian rebels.

Ostensibly to fight against ISIS, but...

[karynnj]

5. That's why it is complicated, but the post I responded to spoke of BOMBING which we are not doing nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. "US Will Look Into Claim Friday Air Strike Killed 52 Civilians in Syria"

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/02/death-toll-syria-climbs-us-led-air-strike

There is that. And earlier reports of civilian deaths in the bombing campaign.

If you're getting bombed to death, i don't know how much it matters that it was "only against ISIS."

[odd_duck]

6. Reports of civilians killed

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/09/29/us-bombs-iraq-and-syria-who-exactly-being-killed

[red dog 1]

8. K&R...Thanks for posting

Sounds like a good idea to me.