US, Russia in Talks on Syria Transition
Clinton: Assad Can Never Be Allowed in 'Free Syria'
Negotiations on a “transition” out of the Syrian Civil War are now underway, and conspicuously absent in the talks are any Syrians whatsoever. Instead, the talks on what a new Syria will look like are entirely up to the US and Russian government’s decisions.
Russia is keen to ensure that any post-war Syria remains a close ally of theirs, and has also expressed concern that the US is simply going to use the talks as an excuse to start a war and impose their own policy at any rate.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s position is that whatever else happens, “free Syria,” which in this context means whatever government is imposed on the Syrians from abroad, can never include Bashar Assad in any form.
The talks seem to have finally sidelined even nominal Syrian involvement in the Syrian civil war, with pro-democracy protesters long since replaced by Western-backed military defectors, and now those defectors to being kept sidelined, leaving the question of the transition up to Clinton and her Russian counterpart.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- Special Operations to Fuel Pentagon Growth Going Forward - December 9th, 2012
- Russian FM Downplays US Talks, Insists Future of Assad Not Up for Discussion - December 9th, 2012
- Israel 'Not Concerned' by Assad's Chemical Weapons - December 9th, 2012
- Netanyahu: Hamas Speech Proves No Compromise Possible With Palestinians - December 9th, 2012
- Northern Lebanon Fighting Continues: 17 Killed in a Week - December 9th, 2012
nomange
December 7th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
What right does this woman have to dictate the terms of Syria's political future? If the Syrian people want Assad they should have the right to reelect him. If they don't want him, let them reject him at the polls. Up to now, he has been much more reasonable than Clinton, RIce and Panetta or the foreign policy they have tried to impose on the rest of the world. Let the woman shut up and leave the Syrians alone. She has done enough damage already.
mojo
December 7th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
It was not the Syrian who started this war, it was Hillary Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama, the English the French the Germans the Swedish and others who started this.., so they are the one who needs to talk about it.., but they all know one thing..,if they let the Syrian people in they will get this answer, get the hell out of our country, get the hell out of our politics, get the hell out if Middle East, you have done no whatsoever good for any nation in the region but helping your tyrants. That's why the Syrian people are not invited.., those millions who were at the last rally for the Syrian government last year, they are still there saying the something God, Syria, Bashir Al Assad va bas.
davidgrayling
December 7th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
The photograph shows a demented Clinton high on power and hubris. Obama seems more reserved but he can't wait to get his hot fingers on the nuke button, really show to the world just how powerful he is.
And where do we, the 7.5 billion people who also live in this world fit in?
We don't!
David
December 7th, 2012 at 10:49 pm
RUSSIA SHOULD NOT SELL SYRIA FOR PETTY CONCESSION AS DID IN CASE OF LIBYA.
People of the world are fed up with Russian passivity against the United fascists of America. They must form a front against the war criminals with China and India and the world will join in. This is a GODEN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM, OTHERWISE THEY REMAIN AS A PETTY STATE AS THEY ARE.
Russia must be careful this time because the world will not accept selling another country for a petty concession once more. If you do Russia will be in a garbage bin for ever.
Barbbf
December 7th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
First Libya, next Syria, then Iran.
Guest
December 8th, 2012 at 7:21 am
What Syrian defectors…?…you mean the Al Quaida and foreign mercenaries that have overrun the country…and are on the US payroll…through the intermediary stooges of the GCC countries of course…
Wouldn't do to openly have the Al Quaida openly on the US payroll…what with the war on terror and all…?
Where do they get these "news writers"…?
conumishu
December 8th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Looks more like a standoff.
US seems reluctant to go on without a sort of fig leaf "misinterpreted" acquiescence from Russia, Russia seems hesitant enough so the westerners don't feel compelled to back down.
In the long run Russia loses through the Assad's regime wearing off. Question is how long westerners can afford to wait since their future doesn't look too bright either. No one should bother with such details as: did foreign involvement make sense in the first place?
mojo
December 8th, 2012 at 11:49 am
It seams that they have felt the defeating air coming their way, so for Hillary Clinton saying that there is no place for Assad in formation of a new Syrian government shows how desperate she is wanting to say that she was right when she said that Assad needs to go.., but forgetting the fact that: all that devastations that U.S and EU have caused the Syrian people and the country needs to put on the ballad for Syrian people to vote on it., beside that any kind of agreement is yet another deception played by the west to emphasize their hostility toward nations in Middle East. Look people: there is no democracy along with anything that U.S or EU been doing those far, the only thing good of all this is that more people have woken up demanding for a functioning democracy as in Egypt.., they will do that sooner or later all over Middle East and North Africa demanding for EU and U.S militarism regime to pack up and go home. Do you remember when Vietnam were saying..,yaknee go home, for the people of Middle East.. now is time to show the world that history dose repeat itself. Yankee go home.
Mark Thomason
December 8th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
We are running a proxy war we started, and it is up to us to end it or not. Our tools are just tools.