Posted on 08/03/2018 4:08:24 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Russia has used a closely guarded communications channel with America's top general to propose the two former Cold War foes cooperate to rebuild Syria and repatriate refugees to the war-torn country, according to a U.S. government memo.
The proposal was sent in a July 19 letter by Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian military's General Staff, to U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Russian plan, which has not been previously reported, has received an icy reception in Washington. The memo said the U.S. policy was only to support such efforts if there were a political solution to end Syria's seven-year-old civil war, including steps like U.N.-supervised elections.
The proposal illustrates how Russia, having helped turn the tide of the war in favor of President Bashar al-Assad, is now pressing Washington and others to aid the reconstruction of areas under his control. Such an effort would likely further cement Assad's hold on power.
"The proposal argues that the Syrian regime lacks the equipment, fuel, other material, and funding needed to rebuild the country in order to accept refugee returns," according to the memo, which specified that the proposal related to Syrian government-held areas of the country.
The United States in 2011 adopted a policy that Assad must leave power but then watched as his forces, backed by Iran and then Russia, clawed back territory and secure Assad's position.
The United States has drawn a line on reconstruction assistance, saying it should be tied to a process that includes U.N.-supervised elections and a political transition in Syria. It blames Assad for Syria's devastation.
The Syria conflict has killed an estimated half a million people, driven some 5.6 million people out of the country and displaced around 6.6 million within it.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Strikes me that rebuilding Syria and returning all the Syrian refugees would be a great end to a horrid misadventure in the Mideast.
It’s Russia’s Friend so they should do it
No....
” An icy reception”
Such bullshit
Someone tell the Pentagon we are NOT going back to the Cold war
If we dont work with Russia on this, then the Chinese will
We agree to help do this, but only if Iran pulls way back.
Putin leans on Iran. They pull back just far enough where Bibi is not quite satisfied, but can live with it, and the Iranians grumble too, but everybody saves face. Trump collects second Nobel Prize for Peace. Bill Kristol’s head explodes.
Upwards of 500,000 dead, eh? That should make Bill and Linda Gates happy - reducing the surplus population.
They’ve got a deadline to meet after all...
Goldman Sachs rushing to the rescue with the US tax payers on the hook in;
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Thanks CondoleezzaProtege. Conditions would need to be laid down first -- removal of Iran from Syria and Lebanon, for starters. If the Russians can't get them to go, then the Russians would have to agree to use force.
I see no reason why the EU should not step up on this one.
It’s in THEIR interests.
The US has a peripheral interest, at best.
Obama OUT, Syrian war STOPPED. THAT'S the headline.
The EU and the rich Arab countries can pay our companies to do it. We’ll sell them the expertise and materiel.
Let the EU start paying for the rebuilding around the world.
It’s in THEIR interests.
The US has a peripheral interest, at best.
Well, we *could* help with the refugee repatriation logistics. Having a bit of recent practice at doing such things on a large scale could come in handy.
It’s only right. Obama, Mccain and the saudis helped destroy the place
Best idea so far, these are the scumbags that started the Syria war, spread it to destabilize the entire Middle East/North Africa, brought it to Europe, and then lost it.
Behind the Sudden Death of a $1 Billion Secret C.I.A. War in Syria
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/world/middleeast/cia-syria-rebel-arm-train-trump.html
I don’t think the US should bear most of the financial burden, but if the US and Russia and the Euros could work together to help resettle Syrian refugees, that could be a positive. And the Arab oil states could make substantial financial contributions.
And the US should assure Assad that if he and his supporters start mistreating any segment of the Syrian population in the future, stealth drones will be firing missiles through his bedroom window.
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