Obama, Putin discuss Syria; essential difference over Assad remains | World Defense

Obama, Putin discuss Syria; essential difference over Assad remains

Redheart

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Obama, Putin discuss Syria; essential difference over Assad remains| Reuters

Russia and the United States agreed on Monday to look for a diplomatic end to the Syrian civil war but clashed over the central question of whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should retain power.

During a 90-minute meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed that their armed forces should hold talks to avoid coming into conflict in Syria after a Russian military buildup there over the last several weeks.

The United States, France and allied countries are bombing Islamic State militants, who have exploited power vacuums to seize parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq as part of a stated goal of creating an Islamic caliphate.

The reinforcement of the Russian military presence in the country, including the addition of tanks and warplanes, has brought fears of inadvertent or accidental clashes among the forces as well as U.S. questions about Moscow's main goal.

Speaking after his meeting with Obama, Putin told reporters Russia was pondering what more it could do to support Syrian government and Kurdish forces against Islamic State militants.

"We are mulling over what we would really do extra in order to support those who are in the battlefield, resisting and fighting with terrorists, ISIS (Islamic State) first of all," Putin said, ruling out deploying Russian ground troops.

"There is (an) opportunity to work on joint problems together," Putin said of his talks with Obama, which a U.S. official described as "businesslike."

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters after the meeting: "The Russians certainly understood the importance of there being a political resolution to the conflict in Syria, and there being a process that pursues a political resolution."

Obama said he was willing to cooperate with Russia and Iran to try to end the four-year civil war in Syria, in which at least 200,000 people have died and millions have been driven from their homes. But he described Assad as its chief culprit.

In contrast, Putin said there was no alternative to cooperating with Assad's military to fight Islamic State militants, and called for the creation of a broader international anti-terrorist coalition. This appeal may compete with the coalition that the United States has assembled to fight Islamic State.

"The United States is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict," Obama, who spoke before Putin, told the world body. "But we must recognize that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the prewar status quo."

Obama did not explicitly call for Assad's ouster, and he suggested there could be a "managed transition" away from the Syrian president's rule, the latest sign that despite U.S. animus toward Assad it was willing to see him stay for some period of time.
 

Corzhens

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It is a good idea if US and Russia would agree to join forces in attacking the ISIS in Syria and Iraq since ISIS has already an established stronghold in the 2 countries. The power of a united military attack by the friendly nations would cripple the ISIS strength. As per the politics in Syria, the status quo should be observed, i.e. the present regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be respected. As the saying goes, take away the thorn (from the sole) first before deciding on whether to wear shoes or slippers.
 

Susimi

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It's good to see that the East and West are meeting and agreeing on things to fight a common enemy that poses some danger to every nation that does not follow it's crazy ideology.

I just hope this truce, coalition or whatever you want to call it lasts.
 

ke gordon

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We
Obama, Putin discuss Syria; essential difference over Assad remains| Reuters

Russia and the United States agreed on Monday to look for a diplomatic end to the Syrian civil war but clashed over the central question of whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should retain power.

During a 90-minute meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed that their armed forces should hold talks to avoid coming into conflict in Syria after a Russian military buildup there over the last several weeks.

The United States, France and allied countries are bombing Islamic State militants, who have exploited power vacuums to seize parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq as part of a stated goal of creating an Islamic caliphate.

The reinforcement of the Russian military presence in the country, including the addition of tanks and warplanes, has brought fears of inadvertent or accidental clashes among the forces as well as U.S. questions about Moscow's main goal.

Speaking after his meeting with Obama, Putin told reporters Russia was pondering what more it could do to support Syrian government and Kurdish forces against Islamic State militants.

Well I think it is good that Obama and Putin are discussing the situation. Naturally, Putin is a bad guy who pretends to be a good one, but he does exert some influence in the region, and Assad is another crazy Middle Eastern ruler who gasses and kills his own people, but in this situation sometimes you have to make a deal with the devil, in order to control a more serious threat.,in this case Assad.

"We are mulling over what we would really do extra in order to support those who are in the battlefield, resisting and fighting with terrorists, ISIS (Islamic State) first of all," Putin said, ruling out deploying Russian ground troops.

"There is (an) opportunity to work on joint problems together," Putin said of his talks with Obama, which a U.S. official described as "businesslike."

A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters after the meeting: "The Russians certainly understood the importance of there being a political resolution to the conflict in Syria, and there being a process that pursues a political resolution."

Obama said he was willing to cooperate with Russia and Iran to try to end the four-year civil war in Syria, in which at least 200,000 people have died and millions have been driven from their homes. But he described Assad as its chief culprit.

In contrast, Putin said there was no alternative to cooperating with Assad's military to fight Islamic State militants, and called for the creation of a broader international anti-terrorist coalition. This appeal may compete with the coalition that the United States has assembled to fight Islamic State.

"The United States is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict," Obama, who spoke before Putin, told the world body. "But we must recognize that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the prewar status quo."

Obama did not explicitly call for Assad's ouster, and he suggested there could be a "managed transition" away from the Syrian president's rule, the latest sign that despite U.S. animus toward Assad it was willing to see him stay for some period of time.

I think that is important that the two rulers are sitting down to talk turkey. Obama may need to make a deal with the devil in order to quell a more serious devil, Assad. It is sad there are so many self created problems in the Middle East.
 

Redheart

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Russia considers all groups fighting against Assad to be terrorists. That includes the rebels who the U.S believes are Assad's opposition.

The U.S wants Assad ousted because he has committed war crimes and also because the Syrian people don't want him anymore. But for a smooth transition of power from Assad to whoever will take over after him, Assad must stick around for a little while longer.

They should have stepped in to help Syria earlier . . .
 
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