Monday, January 19, 2015

Remembering Kerry's Biggest Triumph

Remember how the Kerry-Lavrov deal on Syrian chemical weapons disarmament was supposed to be completed by last summer?

Well:

Syria has started the long-delayed destruction of a dozen underground bunkers and hangars that were used for the production and storage of chemical weapons, diplomatic sources told Reuters on Monday.

And, of course, there is this little loophole that Assad exploited:

An OPCW fact finding mission has been investigating the use of chlorine bombs, which have killed and injured dozens of people in Syrian villages in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria.

No matter, the deal remains a glorious example of "smart" diplomacy--by Assad:

U.S. President Barack Obama called off military action against Damascus after Syria agreed to destroy its chemical stockpiles. A year later the United States began a bombing campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria with the tacit approval of Assad, which still continues.

The Obama administration has long said Assad is someone we can do business with--and we have.

I confess I just don't get any of this whole nuance thing. It looks like screwing friends and rewarding enemies, but the smart guys (and gals) keep saying it is deep.