U.S. to Work Through U.N. on Syria Arms Proposal

[Zorra]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — The United States will begin working with its allies at the United Nations to explore the viability of a Russian plan to avert military action against Syria by having the international community take control of the Syrian chemical weapons stockpile, a senior White House official said on Tuesday.

The decision to work through the United Nations came after President Obama spoke Tuesday morning with President François Hollande of France and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, the White House official said.

“They agreed to work closely together, and in consultation with Russia and China, to explore seriously the viability of the Russian proposal to put all Syrian chemical weapons and related materials fully under international control in order to ensure their verifiable and enforceable destruction,” the official said. “These efforts will begin today at the United Nations.”

A meeting of the Security Council had been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon but was canceled at Russia’s request, according to United Nations diplomats.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/world/middleeast/syrian-chemical-arsenal.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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Yay!

[Hydra]

1. *Whew*

Now that we've stepped back from that brink...can we now talk about how much money that almost cost us and how we can better use the funds the DoD had set aside "just in case" for this?

[another_liberal]

3. They went and let the cat out of the bag on that, didn't they?

How much was that they had socked away again?

[Hydra]

5. ~$89 Billion off the top of my head

They said they had it hedged for unexpected emergencies(wars).

On the other hand, they keep saying we're broke...while they shovel it in the billions toward the NSA and the DoD. I think that was a major reason for the public pushback on this.

[another_liberal]

6. If that's what they admit to . . . who knows?

A small fraction of that would save Detroit's pensioners a lot of grief. A bit more would fix any number of bridges and such.

I'm sure glad they decided to get boastful.

[Hydra]

7. This whole situation was surreal

I got a strong smell of "This is what we're doing. What are you going to do about it??"

I have to say I learned more about this admin in the last week than I ever expected to...and it was not a pretty sight.

[another_liberal]

8. It's not what I expected was there either.

I considered my imagination to be fairly jaded, still this has provided a host of unpleasant surprises.

[another_liberal]

2. Is this or is this not . . .

The wildest roller coaster ride in recent history? With no safety bar to hold you in either.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Obama is no George Bush that's for sure.

That's why the chickenhawks hate him.