Syria

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s latest seesaw on Syria comes not just as the president plans on addressing the nation and as his use of force authorization struggles to find votes in Congress, but as pro-Israel advocates flood the Hill this week to urge lawmakers to take a hard line against Bashar  al-Assad.

Today’s proposal from Russia and Syria to make a deal on Assad’s big chemical weapons stockpile not only gives the regime stalling time, but gives breathing room to a reluctant Obama and lawmakers whose votes for or against action risk violating their professed beliefs or countering constituents’ wishes.

Regardless of massive skepticism surrounding the deal brokered by Assad’s main arms supplier, the spin machine was in full swing.

“Credible pressure from the United States helped draw out Russia’s proposal to work with the international community to remove Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile from Syria,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who voted for the strike authorization in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. “If genuine, the Russian proposal represents a welcome change from its policy of supporting and supplying arms to Syria… It is my hope that this proposal signals Russia’s willingness to take constructive responsibility for ending the threat posed by Assad’s chemical weapons, and I will work with my colleagues this week to craft a path forward that allows both diplomacy and continued pressure.”

http://pjmedia.com/blog/russia-gives-congress-a-break-on-syria