With fighting between rebels and Assad loyalists swirling around Damascus (see: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-tv-station-attacked-7-staffers-killed-092503304.html), Russia has secretly concluded that it has been backing the "wrong horse." Concerned that it will soon lose all sway over a new Sunni-led regime in Damascus, Moscow is now ready for the first time to discuss Assad's removal with the West.
By the way, note how Moscow is no longer demanding that Iran participate in the emergency discussions of the "Action Group for Syria" on Saturday (see: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/syria-crisis-hillary-clinton-russian-foreign-minister-to-attend-emergency-talks/2012/06/27/gJQAJXRd7V_story.html).
As I stated in an earlier blog item (http://jgcaesarea.blogspot.co.il/2012/06/syria-us-intelligence-mistaken.html), US intelligence is wrong: the tide has turned, and Assad's days are numbered.
[Further evidence of Russia's willingness to abandon Assad is to be found in a new Reuters news item, indicating Moscow's support for a Syrian unity government that could exclude Assad (see: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/28/syria-crisis-transition-idINDEE85R00B20120628).]
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Given that Obama is in campaign mode, it's hartening at least, to know that progress can be made without the input of our President.
ReplyDelete