In reality they took a John Kerry gaffe and turned it into a way to save their key ally.
Via Politico:
Secretary of State John Kerry told a closed meeting of House lawmakers that the Russian government is only seeking to help Syria because they believe the U.S. is serious about taking military action, according to multiple sources present.
The comment, which came in a classified briefing of the full House on Monday, mirrors public comments by other Obama administration officials: the threat of a military attack is working to bring the Russians to the negotiating table.
After enduring days of brutal skepticism from lawmakers of both parties, Kerry and other administration officials wasted no time in attempting to link Russia’s proposal to the pressure coming from the White House. Democratic lawmakers agreed.
“This suggestion today by [the Russians] about bring the chemical weapons Assad has under control, I think it’s a direct result of the president saying he’s ready to do whatever is necessary to back up what he’s already said,” Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said.
Krauthammer said it best: “The Russians were playing chess here with a set of rank amateurs.”
BRET BAIER: Just to review, Charles, this started with Secretary of State Kerry answering a question in London in which right after he said it, the State Department said he was speaking rhetorically about a situation we thought had very low probability of happening and suddenly it may be U.S. policy.
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Because I think the Russians were playing chess here with a set of rank amateurs and understood that that gaffe gave them the opening they wanted. There are two issues here: chemicals and the retaining in power of Assad and of the Iran/Hezbollah/Assad/Russian axis dominating the region.
Because I think the Russians were playing chess here with a set of rank amateurs and understood that that gaffe gave them the opening they wanted. There are two issues here: chemicals and the retaining in power of Assad and of the Iran/Hezbollah/Assad/Russian axis dominating the region.
The Russians clearly, immediately saw that this enabled them to achieve their two objectives. Keep Assad in power. After all, if we’re going to have negotiations, we have to essentially recognize Assad. It’s not that Assad has to go, he’s the guy that’s going to have to provide the protection for any inspectors, locate the sites, he’s going to have to be in there. He’s going to be a negotiating element in this. He will remain in power and the Russians are going to have their air base, the naval base, everything that they have.