Putin: too early to speak about sheltering Assad in Russia

[Gawdless Pinko Lib]

Source: AP

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that it would be too early to speak about granting political asylum to Syrian President Bashar Assad, a Putin ally and arguably the main obstacle in the Syrian peace process.

Russia began carrying out air strikes on the positions of Islamic State fighters in September in support of Assad's army which critics say are aimed against Assad's opponents.

Russia, the United States, Middle East nations are promoting talks between the Syrian government and opposition, and Assad has been seen as a highly divisive figure.

Putin said in an interview with the German daily Bild published on Tuesday that Moscow is advocating for a constitutional reform in Syria and if the next election is democratic, "Assad won't have to go anywhere, no matter if he is elected president or not."

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0c3af1c6ac5c426d80e000117c1b3d35/putin-too-early-speak-about-sheltering-assad-russia

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Why is Putin bringing up this issue if he isn't thinking about it? Sending a message to Assad via Bild, maybe.

[Bad Dog]

1. If it's too early...

why is he doing it?

This is the start of a negotiating position.

[yellowcanine]

8. Pootie is not one to wait to talk about something. He has never had an "off" switch.

Why start now?

[another_liberal]

2. There is a Syrian peace conference opening in a few days . . .

The West is pushing hard to force an agreement which would remove President Assad from power (under exactly what legal pretense I can not even imagine). Russia has always been of the opinion that only the Syrian people can remove their own popularly elected, United Nations recognized President. President Putin is probably only letting it be publicly known that his county's stance on the issue has not changed.

BTW: Why do we, along with our subservient allies, get to decide who governs in what foreign lands? There is still such a thing as international law and national sovereignty does still exist as a fact. How would we feel if a Chinese-led coalition tried to demand that the government of South Korea had to change, without a vote to do so by the South Korean people?

[polly7]

4. Great question. nt.

[Bad Dog]

3. Assad is a butcher

It's not us who want him out, but the majority Sunni population. They did try peaceful protesting and look what happened. He is only still there because of outside interference from Iran, Russia and Hezbollah. Any resolution that keeps Assad in power, even temporarily, will not last.

[lsewpershad]

5. would the conflict in Syria end with Assad gone?

I think not.... Libya is still fresh in our minds.... religious factions will continue fighting... ISIS and Alquaida are still around...

[polly7]

6. The conflict in the ME and NA is not meant to end. nt.

[FrodosPet]

7. Sounds like Putin is throwing him to the wolves

"We don't need you here costing us money and making shit complicated."

[Submariner]

9. The last I heard Assad's wife was banned from traveling to EU countries

a few years ago to put a stop to her extravagant vacations and shopping tours throughout Europe. I wonder if that ban is still in affect.

At the time she did not seem to be concerned that Syrians were being killed in droves by her husband.

Like the TV reality show "The Alaska Bush People", let the Assad's move to Russia and star in "The Siberian Bush People" where they can rot away.

[Xolodno]

10. He'll probably end up in Iran.

Eliminates any liability or issues that could complicate things if he was housed in Russia.