Tillerson Ready to Let Russia Decide Assads Fate

[neohippie]

Source: Foreign Policy

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres during a private State Department meeting last week that the fate of Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad now lies in the hands of Russia, and that the Trump administration’s priority is limited to defeating the Islamic State, according to three diplomatic sources familiar with the exchange.

The remarks offer the latest stop on a bumpy U.S. policy ride that has left international observers with a case of diplomatic whiplash as they try to figure out whether the Trump administration will insist that Assad step down from power. Nearly three months ago, Tillerson had insisted that Assad would have to leave office because of his alleged use of chemical weapons.

Tillerson’s assurances to Guterres signaled the Trump administration’s increasing willingness to let Russia take the driver’s seat in Syria, throwing geopolitics to the wayside to focus on defeating ISIS.

He also signaled that U.S. military action against Assad’s forces in recent months is intended to achieve only limited tactical goals–deterring future chemical weapons attacks and protecting U.S. backed-forces fighting the Islamic State in Syria–not weakening the Assad government or strengthening the opposition’s negotiating leverage.

Read more: http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/03/tillerson-ready-to-let-russia-decide-assads-fate/?utm_content=buffer328a3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

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Tillerson want's to yield our position to whatever Putin decides.

[HopeAgain]

1. Can you say quid pro quo?

[Lurks Often]

2. Russia is extremely unlikely to allow Assad to be removed from office

Russia needs the money it gets from selling weapons to Syria and the warm water port that it has in Syria.*

While I'd like to see Assad deposed, tried & convicted and executed for what he has done to the Syrian people, the risks in pursuing that goal far outweigh the marginal benefits this country would get, since Assad's replacement is unlikely to be much better.



*I know that the Black Sea ports are warm water ports, however the Bosporus Straits are controlled by Turkey and Erdogan is hardly a predictable or trustworthy individual. Additionally Turkey can close the Bosporus Straits to military vessels at their discretion and while the Russian Black Sea fleet could probably force it's way through, it would take significant losses breaking through and transiting the Aegean Sea to get to the relatively open waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Let?

Hey Rexie, Assad's fate and fortune has always been tied to Russia. You arent letting anybody do anything, you feckless gas-bag.

[avebury]

4. It is pretty obvious that the US has lost its leadership

position in world affairs. What will Trump give up when he meets with his master?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

9. What leadership position?

In the Arab world, we seem to have zero leadership.

Ok, yeah, we're pretty good at busting up cities, armies, and eliminating heads of state. But we sort of suck at helping to create any form of stable government.

If we eliminate Assad, then what?

[MedusaX]

5. This has always been part of the deal...The SCO is the key to understanding where this is headed...

The SCO originally was known as the Shanghai 5 until 2001.
SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) is an Eurasian political, economic, and security organization.
The current members are:
China
India
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Pakistan
Russia {+4 Iran,Iraq,SYRIA,Hezbollah}
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan

4 observer states:
Afghanistan
Belarus
Iran
Mongolia

6 dialogue partners:
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Cambodia
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Turkey

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation

China has taken over the rotating presidency of the SCO.
China and Russia are also on the same page in terms of fast-tracking Iran’s admission as a full SCO member.

The current “4+1” mechanism – Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Hezbollah – quietly backed by China, was set up to fight all forms of Salafi-jihadi terrorism and at the same time to prevent regime change in Damascus.

A possible China-Japan reset would add the definitive momentum to the BRI, EEU and SCO interpenetration.

>snip<
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan raised the issue of a possible full membership with the SCO on Jan. 25.

The prime minister said he considered the organization to be an alternative to the European Union at a time when hopes for the EU membership process are diminishing with regards to the adamant opposition to Turkey’s membership by a number of EU member states.
"I said to Russian President Vladimir Putin: ‘You tease us, saying, ‘what [is Turkey] doing in the EU?’
Now I tease you: include us in the Shanghai Five and we will forget about the EU,’” he said.
>snip<
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-seeks-observer-member-status-in-sco.aspx?PageID=238&NID=40267&NewsCatID=338


Turkey becoming a full member will set precedence for the US to become a member....

this is the ultimate scenario for Vlad to assert Russian geopolitical dominance.

[Honeycombe8]

6. Well, he's turned out to be a total wimp. A CEO of what, Exxon or GS? And he's this wimpy?

His reputation is suffering in the business world, I'm sure. Rich friends will love the money and still invite him to their champagne parties, but they'll whisper behind his back that he's a eunich, now.

[keithbvadu2]

8. His interest is oil,,,, Secretary of Oil.

[Honeycombe8]

10. Yep. nt

[vlyons]

7. Because, ya know

removing Assad takes diplomatic expertise, resolve, intelligence, excellent relationships, and leadership.