Russia's Syria proposal offers major powers clear advantages (LA Times)
News Analysis
Russia's Syria proposal offers major powers clear advantages
Even if the proposal bogs down at the U.N., it provides a diplomatic way out of a military strike. Syrian rebels and their supporters, however, stand to lose.
By Paul Richter
September 11, 2013, 4:00 a.m.
WASHINGTON — The Russian proposal for Syria to surrender its chemical weapons has gained great momentum because it provides clear advantages to several world leaders and leaves as the losers a smaller group that lacks much power to influence the outcome.
Even if the Russian proposal bogs down at the United Nations, as many observers expect, it offers a way to put the issue back in meeting rooms rather than on the battlefield, easing anxiety in many world capitals.
A U.S. bombardment of Syria with cruise missiles, which President Obama had planned, would certainly inflict damage, including a high likelihood of civilian casualties. Despite assurances that the attacks would be "narrow and limited," an American military strike would raise risks of escalation and retaliation.
The Syrians demonstrated their worry about the Pentagon's ability to severely damage their military as they scrambled in the last two weeks to hide troops and equipment. The Russians, with ships in the neighborhood and probably technical advisors in Syria, didn't want the risk of an unintended conflict with the United States.
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-syria-assess-20130911,0,4969084.story