Russia was selling the unity deal between the Assad government and certain secular rebel factions for months before they entered the war directly, but often found themselves rejected, particularly by the US-backed rebel factions who insisted no deal was possible under any circumstances.
President Putin, however, indicated this could be changing today, revealing that he discussed the matter with visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who said he was willing to talk with rebel groups both on ending the conflict and on fighting together against ISIS.
Getting the rebels on board could be a bigger obstacle, however, particularly with some of the US-backed groups, like the Free Syrian Army (FSA), openly talking about terrorist attacks against Russia to punish them for their involvement in the war. Finding meaningful factions on the rebel side who aren’t averse to peace may be harder than ever, particularly with the US furious at Russia for their involvement in the war against ISIS.
On the other hand, Russia’s involvement may provide an opportunity for such a deal, as it gives Russia more leverage on the Assad government to come to a mutually acceptable deal, and Russia’s addition to the war as a direct backer of that government may convince the rebels that their long-predicted military victory is no longer assured.
What rebels group could possibly be part of this discussion? And who are they supposed to represent? Don't bother with talks, keeping attacking "IS" till it leaves Syria or disbands.
That'll be the day! The Israelis have spent nearly seventy years using much the same brutal tactics trying to crush the Palestinians and they have't succeeded yet. So, yes, the more Putin fights on, the better. Heads Ukraine wins, tails Putin loses.
Your comparisons are lousy. "IS" is equivalent to the Palestinians?
Lol i have never read a more onesided unprofessional article like this one. You call yourself "anti war"? You should be ashamed of yourselves, you are nothing more than a propaganda mouthpiece for dictator Putin and massmurderer Assad.
Clearly, unlike myself, you are not a regular reader of Mr Ditz's articles, which are indeed pro-Putin propaganda and it is crazy to call this website "antiwar". It is only "anti-war" when the war isn't being waged by Vladimir Putin. That, however, is in no way unusual on the American internet, regardless of the site's professed ideology. But since these websites have a miniscule audience, those who visit them are usually educated and sophisticated people and the propaganda is so flat-footed and laid on so thick (to say nothing of the professional bloggers who chime in), I doubt if anyone is fooled. I come here to see what's scaring the Putin camp and they're obviously very scared!
Neither Antiwar.com, nor Mr. Ditz when speaking "for" Antiwar.com, favor either "the rebels" or "the Assad regime" or "Putin" in Syria or anywhere else. Our position is that we oppose US military adventurism, anywhere, any time, period, end of story.
Sorry about the butthurt when you discover that no, Antiwar.com is not going to be a propaganda mouthpiece for your other preferred outcomes or anyone else's.
Putin knows the rebels won't agree. They won't even do that for the US in return for weapons and support.
He's making this offer because he knows it will be refused. It is to make that point. And propaganda of course, always an element in war.
Good point. Indeed, propaganda very often serves to reveal a party's weaknesses. Watch what they don't say and what they're trying to steer you away from.
Putin is frantically trying to make himself an American "ally" and we all know why: that militarily worthless naval base. The US will probably play the same game with him as he is playing in Ukraine: pretend to negotiate while stalling. There's no need to negotiate with Assad. Now that Putin has started making war on his behalf, Assad can't win. Even if he survives, it will be only as Putin's puppet. He's condemned to fight ISIS and the others whether he likes it or not, so why should the US give him something for doing something he has to do anyway?