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LittleBlue

(10,362 posts)

30. A more complete victory for Putin could not have been imagined

Tue Sep 10, 2013, 12:52 PM

Sep 2013

He was just patient and took his chance. He waited until the House was certain to embarrassingly vote against Obama, and even the Senate looked close. None of our allies supported a military solution.

Putin waited for that uncomfortable moment, and Kerry's comment, to end this. All the other actors (Assad, congress, White House and EU) were in such uncomfortable positions they leaped at it. Assad is preserved, the rebels must surely be demoralized, Putin gets a boost at home and internationally, all in exchange for chemical weapons that weren't useful anyway.

When people write geopolitical history books, this will undoubtedly be a case study in masterful diplomacy and patience.

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Highlight:

Juan Cole: How Putin Saved Obama, Congress and the EU from Further Embarrassing themselves on Syria [View all] Catherina Sep 2013 OP

Grandmaster Vlad from Leningrad learns a new tune Fumesucker Sep 2013 #1

One dictator saves another oberliner Sep 2013 #2

Syria is the conduit for bombs that kill Israelis Kolesar Sep 2013 #3

There are BAD people everywhere HangOnKids Sep 2013 #29

Aww, a little Putin-love. CakeGrrl Sep 2013 #4

+ 1000 jessie04 Sep 2013 #5

Yup. HappyMe Sep 2013 #9

But he's dreamy... SidDithers Sep 2013 #11

great article. Imagine how disappointed Kerry, Obama, etc ellenrr Sep 2013 #6

Do you think the President actually wanted to go to war? nt brush Sep 2013 #37

ummm no I guess the reason Hegel and Kerry drummed up the war footing and the reason ellenrr Sep 2013 #60

Consider this please brush Sep 2013 #61

Thanks for laying out the timeline accurately. another_liberal Sep 2013 #7

Kerry also said that it was 'impossible' to accomplish B2G Sep 2013 #16

Too true. another_liberal Sep 2013 #20

How Juan Cole embarrassed himself with a one-sided analysis BeyondGeography Sep 2013 #8

Maybe you should apply for his job? HangOnKids Sep 2013 #35

Then why didn't Putin do this in the first place? nt treestar Sep 2013 #10

He did. another_liberal Sep 2013 #21

Then why didn't he allow for UN involvement? treestar Sep 2013 #24

That's rather narrow-sighted. another_liberal Sep 2013 #32

Obama and Putin discussed this weapons plan idea at the G20 summit last week pampango Sep 2013 #12

This analysis makes absolutely no sense. ProSense Sep 2013 #13

Recommend jsr Sep 2013 #14

The Putin worship on the anti-war left should surprise me, but doesn't. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #15

There is a Putin RAWKS thread? HangOnKids Sep 2013 #36

The theme of the day is geek tragedy Sep 2013 #38

Does that translate into Putin RAWKS? HangOnKids Sep 2013 #42

He is the genius whose desire to see geek tragedy Sep 2013 #45

Comic Book HangOnKids Sep 2013 #48

Much of this site views Obama as a comic book villain. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #51

Sorry not seeing it HangOnKids Sep 2013 #55

And it only took him a couple minutes between flight training sessions snooper2 Sep 2013 #17

!!!! dionysus Sep 2013 #18

The warmongers are out in force over this potential deal. blackspade Sep 2013 #19

Oh please. HappyMe Sep 2013 #22

Then you've been reading with your mind shut. blackspade Sep 2013 #27

Oh thank you, wise one! HappyMe Sep 2013 #33

You're oh, so welcome.... blackspade Sep 2013 #41

We can't give up the opportunity to cripple Hezbollah's chief ally, Syria. another_liberal Sep 2013 #23

I hope you are being sarcastic... blackspade Sep 2013 #26

I was being sarcastic. another_liberal Sep 2013 #34

My apologies then! blackspade Sep 2013 #43

No problem. another_liberal Sep 2013 #44

I want it to work but I'm not holding my breath. Catherina Sep 2013 #40

Juan Cole can go to hell. n/t Avalux Sep 2013 #25

Russia disagrees with Cole ProSense Sep 2013 #28

A more complete victory for Putin could not have been imagined LittleBlue Sep 2013 #30

Yes, all hail Putin, the genius who saved mankind geek tragedy Sep 2013 #39

You can admire someone's brilliance without LittleBlue Sep 2013 #46

Yes, yes a real idiot that Obama fellow is. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #47

Because Obama was facing a 200 vote defeat in the house LittleBlue Sep 2013 #53

Kremlin says you all are the dummies. geek tragedy Sep 2013 #54

Of course he's going to say that LittleBlue Sep 2013 #57

Your inability to understand how diplomacy works geek tragedy Sep 2013 #58

It's hilarious treestar Sep 2013 #62

K & R. Thanks! n/t ocpagu Sep 2013 #31

Actually, I think the "saving" was done by the British Parliament and public opinion. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2013 #49

Putin can go fuck himself for a number of reasons. NuclearDem Sep 2013 #50

Just in: Putin to RT: "Syria chem arms handover will work only if US calls off strike" Catherina Sep 2013 #52

I hate Putin's disgraceful stance on gay rights....... Little Star Sep 2013 #56

Same here. HOWEVER. I think the hawks outweigh the level-headed people & are messing this up Catherina Sep 2013 #59