President Barack Obama’s report card on international leadership has been historically bad.
Tuesday gave him another failing grade in Syria. Not only has Obama failed to get rid of the Islamic State in the area, his continuing series of missteps has further cemented Iran’s and Syria’s growing power in the region — as well as Al-Qaeda’s.
But nobody has taken more advantage of Obama than Russian President Vladimir Putin — and he’s just done it again.
Just days after Obama announced a deal to work with Russia in Syria, the deal has fallen to pieces and Russia is moving sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry into the country.
The arrangement between the U.S. and Russia is starting to look less like a deal, and more like another successful stalling tactic by Putin — one Obama fell for again.
Now, the U.S. is suspending direct contacts with Russia on halting the war, and chilly relations are turning even frostier after Russia put a hold on a plutonium disposal deal with Washington.
The two decisions, announced in their respective capitals just hours apart Monday, were ostensibly unrelated but underscored deep mistrust and rising tensions between the former Cold War foes, who are increasingly at odds on a number of issues, particularly Syria and Ukraine.
The moves further reduce areas of Washington-Moscow cooperation, yet their most immediate impact may be the potential death blow delivered to halting attempts to revive a moribund ceasefire in Syria, get desperately needed humanitarian aid to besieged communities and begin negotiations on political transition that could mean the ouster of President Bashar Assad.
The Obama administration said it decided to cut off discussions on Syria because Russia had not lived up to the terms of last month’s agreement to restore a tattered cease-fire and ensure sustained deliveries of humanitarian aid to besieged cities, such as Aleppo, which has been under bombardment from Russian and Syrian forces.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: “What’s clear is that there is nothing more for the United States and Russia to talk about with regard to trying to reach an agreement that would reduce the violence inside of Syria and that’s tragic.”
“This is not a decision that was taken lightly,” State Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Russia failed to live up to its own commitments … and was also either unwilling or unable to ensure Syrian regime adherence to the arrangements to which Moscow agreed.”
Kirby’s statement said that Russia and Syria are pursuing military action in violation of the cease-fire agreement, and pointed to their targeting of hospitals as well as the Sept. 19 airstrike on a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy. The U.S. accused Russia of bombing that convoy, a charge both Russia and Syria have denied.
Russia holds the Security Council presidency this month, and Moscow’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was asked at a news conference late Monday whether this was a new Cold War with the U.S. and whether the next U.N. secretary-general was going to need a psychiatrist to deal with it.
“Of course I hope that there is not going to be a new Cold War,” Churkin replied. “Actually, I think you sort of overdramatized the nature of our differences with the United States globally, after a long period when we have been trying to work as closely as possible with the United States in Syria. Apparently, there is a hitch. I hope this cooperation can be resumed under some other circumstances.”
Russia intervened on behalf of its close ally Syria on Sept. 30 last year, joining Assad’s bombardment of both anti-Assad rebel groups and militant groups such as the Islamic State and Fatah al-Sham Front, an Al-Qaeda spinoff formerly known as the Nusra Front. Russia is interested in propping up Assad in part because Russia’s only naval facility outside the former Soviet Union is on the Syrian coast.
If it had been implemented, the cease-fire deal would have created a joint U.S.-Russian center to coordinate military and intelligence operations. President Barack Obama had overruled Pentagon objections to such cooperation and Secretary of State John Kerry made the offer.
According to a senior U.S. official, the Pentagon has ordered troops who had been deployed to set up the joint implementation center — fewer than 20 — to return to their bases. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, so the person spoke on condition of anonymity.
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, expressing “deep disappointment” about the U.S. move and blasting Washington for the failure to separate the rebels from Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria.
“Washington’s decision reflects the inability of President Barack Obama’s administration to fulfill the key condition for the continuation of our cooperation in overcoming the Syrian crisis,” the statement said. “Or, perhaps, it never had an intention to do so. We are under a growing impression that in its striving for a much-desired change of power in Damascus Washington is ready to ‘make a deal with the Devil’ and forge a union with terrorists who want to turn history backwards and enforce their inhuman norms by force.”
The ministry added that “the stakes are high,” and warned that the “White House will bear the blame if Syria come under new blows by terrorists.”
The U.S. had agreed to separate the rebel groups but noted it was an extremely slow process. The U.S. has relatively few personnel on the ground in Syria and even the moderate rebels have said they are frustrated with the pace of U.S. help.
The suspension in Syria talks was announced just hours after the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree halting a joint program with the U.S. on the disposal of weapons grade plutonium.
The decree cited the “emerging threat to strategic stability as a result of U.S. unfriendly actions,” as well as Washington’s failure to meet its end of the cease-fire deal. It said, however, that Russia will keep the weapons-grade plutonium covered under the agreement away from weapons programs.
Under the agreement, which was expanded in 2006 and 2010, Russia and the U.S. each were to dispose of 34 metric tons of plutonium, enough material for about 17,000 nuclear warheads. When it was signed in 2000, the deal was touted as an example of successful cooperation between Washington and Moscow.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said the U.S. has “done all it could to destroy the atmosphere encouraging cooperation.” It cited U.S. sanctions on Moscow over its annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine and NATO’s deployment of forces near Russian borders.
The White House and State Department voiced disappointment with Russia’s decision to opt out of the program.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
RUTHLESS PUTIN OUTWITS OBUMMA … AGAIN! & this is surprising considering what we have for a President?
Not much!!! The “weasel” in Chief, is now dealing with a very STRONG MAN, and he is TOTALLY OUT OF HIS ELEMENT, there.
So much for qualifications on running a country, Maybe obamas qualifications were to run the country into the ground which he is getting an A+ for his performance of the last almost eight years……
GooooooooooooooooooooTrump you are needed more than ever…..
Welcome to the White House as our next CIC like you say what have we got to lose it can only move up it can not get any lower for the American People………NO MORE CLINTONS, NO MORE OBAMAS, NO MORE LORETTA LYNCH, NO MORE COMEY all weasels from the same nesting area……..
Barak Obama was the first black president! An experiment that went bad. The people were too fast with the black thing, but it was Politically Correct? The trouble is, many very good black people could have been president. Why did we pick this narcissist fool? Now we are thinking of making the same mistake with the Woman Thing! There are also many very good Women that would handle that job. Yet we always seem to pick the worst there is!
retired – couldn’t agree more, out with the weasels and in with the do’ers.
If you remember HUSSAIN Obama the Muslim said that he wanted to change America!! Well he is!!! I still can’t believe that after 9/11people in this country voted to put him in office! ????
Barvo
Tom’s Journal– Blog://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/
You are right about that, Jack ! The Russian, at least respect the Christian Faith in his country, is a Chess Pro, wrestles Bears, rides horses, etc. VS: an unknown CIA plant, a druggie boy, super wimp, who hangs out at the gold club just as much as his office… and a so-called “Community Organizer !!” I am a Disabled Vietnam Veteran: 68-70, worked all my life, Chrysler: 30.5 years, a Welder, also into Finance, Blogging, Writing, and a History Buff. If the USA truly elects Hilly [sic], they deserve God’s Wrath, and the Tribulation ! Sorry to be so blunt and direct. Visit my modest, humble Blog: TOM’S JOURNAL. My email: [email protected] —German is now falling, and the U.S. is NEXT ! Prepare for the ‘Storm.”
Obama = Suka (Russian for bitch)
Take away the country from which these two reside, who would you trust the most!
1 Hillary
2 Putin ********
Retired, I would trust Putin more without even thinking about it!
I would also trust Putin and I would NEVER trust Hilary..NEVER
I would also trust Putin more!!
Putin and Hillary have one major thing in common. If you’re their enemy-you’re not for very long.
I don’t know, and I cannot verify it. In Europe they believe Putin is really killing Isis rebels. And, it could be.
The News about Putin outsmart Obummma is not surprising to me because Putin do not see him as a Leader in any form.Putin is a MAN of strength and Obummma is a dancing Puppet.Watch him dancing up the steps to Air Force One or move over the Lawn in D.C. Pretty,Pretty.I see Trump in a better Position with Putin because he will not bow down and kiss Asses.America need a man like Trump,even so he sometimes get out of the political Line.He is a Man to recon with and that is what we need. VOTE TRUMP FOR THE SAKE OF AMERICA even you don,t love him.He loves America and will fight for it and this is all I need from a President and so should the Women in this Country.
Putin is so much smarter and knows all the games. Where “O” is involved, he really should just hide in the east room and smoke his pot until his last day.
He is so gross in so many ways.
I don’t believe it takes “Ruthless” to back O’bozo the “Big Eared” Clown down any bully will work – even the German man-woman could do it.
That German man-woman is just as dumb and stupid as Obama is, actually she is following his lead, he told her to do more, meaning take in more of those refugees and she listened, instead of to to something about terrorism so these so called refugees could either stay in their countries or could go back to their countries, but noooooo it is so much easier to let them overrun western Europe, especially Germany, and then look like dumb asses of which they truly both are….
angelika griffin – sounds exactly like what’s going on in Europe.
Gott’cha!!
Did Obama, really let Putin out smart or is it really the other way. May be Obama played his hand just the way he wanted. After all he knew Putin couldn’t be trusted. So way make a deal with the devil, unless Obama himself had an hidden agenda. After all we now know he is a racial himself, and he is for the Muslims, so maybe he got exactly what he wanted. This way it makes Putin the bad guy and Obama just sits back and smiles.
You must be kidding Mary. Obama has an objective, which is to disrupt and destroy, and also to bring the US to its knees. Obama’s objective is to create a new world order (as requested of him by the insane communist Soros and his backers/partners).
But Obama is not himself a chess player. And Putin wants an end to the globalists and a restoration of reasonable nationalism. Obama is counting on sitting across from a strong man Trump. He doesn’t want war with a Clinton administration (and increased war that would be, because it is what Soros would want). The globalists don’t like a nationalist Russia. I don’t like the globalists. I believe in strong nationalist identities, but not if those nations have been usurped like the US, the UK, the EU.
Go Putin!!!
Gregory, YES!!!
I would trust Putin by far over Obama. Putin is looking out for his country, Obama is destroying our country.
Pig ears Obozo is outfoxed again.
For cripes sake any 1st grader could out smart Odumbo.
Odumbass = the joke of the planet.
POTUS —– how embarrassing.
Russians should relish the fact they have an intelligent leader with balls, POTUS Ovomit has neither!
Frikin fool!
The voter DID NOT WANT HILLARY back then why would she even think the voters would want her now….she lost to obama how much lower can she get….No more Clintons period.
The United States has no interests in Syria and should keep out. One less militant in the fight can only improve the situation. When things settle down, Israel and Turkey will manage to keep the troubles in Syria within Syria itself and whoever emerges will be the power there. It is called self determination and it is the way that the world works.
gerald-
It is called self determination and it is the way that the world works.
You’re kidding, right?
Or maybe it’s because you haven’t boned up on your CIA history, perhaps starting with the Shah of Iran.
Look, when “regime change” is wanted, you fund “rebels” until they win….OR, you depose whoever’s in and install someone more friendly to “US interests”(usually as defined by the international banking cartel), and THAT’s the way “the world works.”
This was all planned by the progressive liberal communist/Muslim chief…this is more of his transforming America into a sociopath’s version….he thinks America is a hostile country even though we help more people around the world than any other country and so many people come here illegally….he and Killary are partly responsible for the fire in the middle east….they wanted to get rid of the presidents and dictators….and they did….even though these people kept ISIS and Al Quaida out of their country, they had feet on the ground over there encouraging the ousting of these leaders…it was all planned to give these countries to the Muslim Brotherhood of which Humen Abedin is a member and close ally to Killary. However, as with most of these satanic ideas, it did not work out. Now we have real problems and America is being infiltrated with ISIS posing as refugees and illegals pouring into America over an open border system designed by Obozo. Vote Trump for 2016 or America will finally be transformed into something we will have to pick up our guns to recover.
Lock n Load stay vigilant watch for the outcome….
Obama is leaving a huge mess for the next President. Diplomacy must be backed up with strength.
Obama is a Liar, He was never born in America, He is destroying America, But the Democrats and Republicans will do nothing about it, I am voting only for TRUMP any one else its up for grabs. I will not support any of the people that left this Terrorist in the Presidency
Jerry – Im with YOU. Not with HER//// LOL
It would be interesting to know how much of what is going on in the US and the Middle East is being decided by the official leadership of the involved nations, versus the control of the CIA/MOSSAD.
And Obama is so, so smart, BRILLIANT, a genius, even got the Nobel Peace Prize…..I am so, so impressed and Hillary as President is going to continue on like that…She is as healthy as a young horse and smart too, she is constantly outsmarting Trump…I really don’t know where we are going with all of this!!!!
There are No Good Guys in Syria.
How can so many people lie about Obama? He is the most intelligent, truthful, honest, transparent, 100% American?
He would lay down your life to defend his agenda. YUP, that’s YOUR honorable leader.
I typed this with a straight face, it was not easy.
I think I will move to Russia, at least he has a backbone
Compared to Obummer; Putin great. I like him; unless he does something bad. Then would have to change my mind.
If Hillary is elected, we will go to war with Russia,
Putin outsmarts Obama again? That is no big accomplishment and is hardly news worthy. World leaders have been outsmarting Obama for the past eight years. And they did much the Same to Hillary when she was “Secretary of State”. The two of them are mocked and held in contempt by most foreign leaders.
Im most disappointed in this Horn News Publication Unfortunately when it comes to the Middle East issues you have to also resort to slanting the reality around Syria Your Country is exporting war and financial chaos Im sickening by what Ameica and the rest of the west has become YOU HAVE AND ARE DESTROYING MILLIONS OF LIFES GLOBALLY THROUGH YOUR GREED AND CORUPTION Snowden Assange and poor Chelsea Manning deserve a Nobel Peace prize And hey stop murdering your black citizens
america needs to get its arse kicked with putin.america overthrew a legally elected party in the ukrain.america are in syria illegally.putin was invited there by assad.putin is fighting isi america are arming isis.all because assad will not let quater build a pipe line through there country.wake up people in america obama is braindead,putin is not the enemy and never has been
I SUPPOSE OBAMA “BOWED” TO PUTIN…….WHAT A WIMP!
Our Traitor in Chief doesn’t hold a candle to Putin.
Horn news is just another Liberal service. They will not show any of my posts, even though i do not use foul language.