If Secretary of State John Kerry’s comments yesterday, in which he confirmed the US is willing to negotiate with Syrian President Bashar Assad, represent official policy, it’s clear many US allies are not on board.
The Saudi-dominated GCC lashed the comments as deeply concerning, saying any talks that didn’t begin with the assumption of Assad’s ouster were unacceptable.
Kerry’s French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, was similarly critical, saying any negotiations with Assad would amount to a “scandalous gift to ISIS” that would lead millions of Syrians to back their takeover of the country.
The State Department may well have anticipated this backlash, as they disavowed Kerry’s comments shortly after he made them, insisting the US will never talk with Assad, but might talk with other members of the Assad government.
Some fine "allies" the US has there. And what the hell is Fabius talking about? With his backward logic he must be applying to some NATO position, where only morons may apply.
French politicians, left and right, have always held that Syria is actually a province (Departement) of France ever since the Crusades.
ha! the saudies can go f*** themselves as hard as possible.
don't we still owe them a shock and awe for nine eleven?
So the Republican Congress undermines the US President on Iran policy, and the US State Dept. disavows the Secretary of State's position on Syria. Are there any leaders left in Washington DC, or has the place been given over to clowns, lunatics and psychopaths?
These government, family runners business as government, invested in ISIS to win the war and for Iraq, Syria, Libya and Lebanon to be governed by their poodle where turkish Erdogan regime will get to be the new Sunni leader in middle east. The natural resources combined in Iraq, Syria, Libya will make these allies the new world economic power, but off course with USG blassing and CCG accepting the deals, which is the reason they are not. Don't forget the Swedish monarchism, the right wing moderate party and their voice the Neo fascism-democrats in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and rest of Europe not agreeing to the proposed deal.
Let's see, how many weeks ago was it the US would invest half a billion in (finding) and training "moderate opposition" to Assad? Kerry must be losing his marbles here, not in the neocon playbook at all on this one. Look for "retraction" right away.
What is it with you guys suppoting Iran and Assad. If you are really antiwar you should hate Assad who is waging war against his own people.
Assad who is waging war against an external insurgency…ie the same ISIS we are fighting. Get it?
What nonsense. It's only going to be the Saudis (principal ISIS backers) and the Israelis (tacit ISIS backers) that will be annoyed. Western Europe and the rest of the english speaking hangers on (AusNZCanada) will all fall into line and agree as soon as washington gives the green light.
Am I recalling something from bizarro world, or wasn't it just a week or so ago the EU (which France is still a member of, yes?) was making overtures that it was going to break with US policy and work to keep Assad in power?
Once again the right hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.
I'm beginning to think even worse, that the thumb doesn't know what the forefinger is doing.
How does the State department disavow Kerry's statements?