IN OTHER WORDS, NETANYAHU WANTED THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS GONE MORE THAT HE WANTED ASSAD GONE. HE WANTED LEAST FOR THE “REBELS’ TO WIN THE WAR AND TO END UP WITH THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS. TED BELMAN
Report: Wall Street Journal says during Sept. 11 phone conversation, Israeli premier told US secretary of state Russia wasn’t bluffing and that diplomatic solution to Syrian chemical weapons crisis was possible
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged US Secretary of State John Kerry last week to try to reach an agreement with Russia to seize Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal as an alternative to an American strike on the Assad regime, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
According to the newspaper, on Sept. 11 Kerry called Netanyahu, who said he believed Russia wasn’t bluffing and that a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis was possible. Israel shared US concerns that strikes against the regime in Damascus could strengthen rebels linked to al-Qaeda and allow them to take control of President Bashar Assad’s chemical weapons arsenals, WSJ reported.
The report was based on American and Middle Eastern officials who were briefed on the exchange.
The Israeli premier also reportedly told Kerry he thought a deal was possible.
On Monday Kerry briefed some of the United States’ closest allies on the broad agreement to end Syria’s chemical weapons program, pressing for broad support for the plan that averted US military strikes.
A day after visiting Israeli leaders, Kerry was meeting in Paris with his counterparts from France, Britain, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, who had pressed for strikes against the government of Bashar Assad after an Aug. 21 poison gas attack that killed hundreds.
US and Russian officials reached an ambitious agreement over the weekend calling for an inventory of Syria’s chemical weapons program within a week, with the program eradicated by mid-2014.
But many of those who blame Assad for the chemical attack and most strongly backed military strikes said the pressure is on Assad to uphold his end of any deal.
“If diplomacy fails, the United States remains prepared to act,” President Barack Obama warned Sunday in an interview.
Obama’s comments were echoed in France, the only other country to commit military resources against Syria.
“The military option must remain; otherwise there will be no pressure,” French President Francois Hollande said in an address Sunday.
A United Nations resolution would detail how Syria can secure and destroy its stockpile. The content of that is under discussion Monday.
An official close to Hollande said there was firm agreement among France, Britain and the United States that the resolution must be “strong, robust, precise” and must include a calendar of benchmarks for Assad. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic.
Kerry, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Hollande also agreed to continue to work toward a political solution with the Syrian opposition, the officials said.
The Aug. 21 attack unfolded as a UN chemical weapons team was in Syria to investigate earlier reported attacks. After days of delays, the inspectors were allowed access to victims, doctors and others in the Damascus suburbs afflicted by the poison gas. The UN’s chief weapons inspector turned over his team’s report on Sunday, and the Security Council is due to take it up in a closed session Monday.
The Assad regime insists that the attack was carried out by rebels. The inspection team led by Swedish expert Ake Sellstrom was mandated to report on whether chemical weapons were used and which ones they were — not on who was responsible.
Intended, apparently, for stateside consumption.
Netanyahu, for better or for worse, has considerable cachet in the USA.
If BHO/Kerry can give the impression that it was BB’s idea, they can shore up American support for a project that actually has little support in the States — from the left OR the right, albeit for different reasons.
(And if the Administration does end up ploughing ahead, how will they enforce the proposition without the eventual assistance of 75,000 grunts?)
Good links Yamit. Thanks.
yamit82 Said:
I must sadlly agree. But,sometimes that an be a disguised blessing.
bernard ross Said:
Assad will never give up All of his Chemical weapons. His bio weapons remain intact in any case and he may have shipped some of his supply to Hezbollah. Even so he can always manufacture more or be resupplied by Iran. America can’t and won’t consider attacking him now and Russia will veto any future sanctions against him in the UN.
Israel benefited, ONLY if the chemical weapons, will be dismantled and destroyed. Assad will stay and the Islamists will not take over Syria. On the other hand, it’s possible that Israel will once again be exposed to calls to get rid of its own alleged weapons of mass destruction.
We will be asked to pay the price of Obama’s weakness and incompetence.
yamit82 Said:
You are right
However, this statement would be true if even a mior protion of it were untrue. diplomatic speak for a vague denial.
I towuld not surprise me if Israel had been in support of such a plan of the chem weapons being removed from both assad and AQ. I would think this was one of Israel’s larger worries. as to how realistic it is I have not a clue, but theoretically it would be good for Israel. There is nothing to prevent the factions from happily continuing to kill each other. Certainly Israel’s position vs the chem weapons would be improved by such a plan.
2 comments in moderation 2 out of 4 that’s 50% guess it could be worse.
From Damascus to Dimona
A Syrian groom without a bride
20 trucks with Syrian chemical equipment said sent to Iraq
Unconfirmed report in Lebanese newspaper echoes claims by Syrian rebels that Assad is hiding his WMD stocks to evade inspectors
Syrian rebel chief claims Assad gave Hezbollah nerve gas
Al-Labwani tells Saudi paper that Damascus transferred a ton of VX to Shiiite terrorists; FSA leader claims chemical weapons moved to Iraq, Lebanon
I knew this was BS Obama spin when I first saw the headline.
My confirmation:
Israel denies Netanyahu urged Kerry to back Syria deal
Prime Minister’s Office says Wall Street Journal report on phone conversation with US secretary of state is ‘untrue’ and ‘erroneous’
Israel worried it may be pushed to join chemical weapons ban
With deal to disarm Syria of WMDs underway, some policymakers concerned US, Russia may pressure Jerusalem to ratify arms treaty
Assad’s biological weapons absent from US-Russia deal
Syrian regime has two bases producing anthrax and other devastating agents, Israel’s Channel 10 reports