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 ...
Obviously we are not on the same page
Not even in the same book
The reality is that western relations with Russia are overdue for a major reset
For a thousand years Europe sought to contend with Russia over territorial expansionism
After the Rus consolidated into a unified power under the Tsars, Europe sought to contend with their rivalry by various monarchical treaties
As the old monarchies declined in the face of nation-state political reform, Prussia- Bismarck sought to contend with Russia by including them in a complex European balancing act of international treaties and alliances
When that system failed ( actually contributed to WW1) the Europeans sought to contend with Russia by allying with them as a counterbalance to a Prusso-German domination of Europe under the Kaiser
When after WW1 the Russian nation fell to tearing itself apart under the horrific ideology of the Bolsheviks, Europe sought to contend by alliance looking west to the Atlantic, with the US and Britain, based on industrialization and financial ties
When the Treaty of Versailles led the scorned resentful Germans to turn to an Axis with Japan to rebel against western-dominated industrial hegemony - and the Nazi party rose - the West decided that Russian Marxists were again allies against Nazis and the Axis
When the allies ( including Russia) defeated Germany - Russia was again excluded based on fears of ideological contamination by the Red Menace against western values - even outright territorial invasion
And this is where too many thinkers have stopped
Seeing Russia as a hostile adversary based on rhetoric and military vs military posturing for the past 70 years
Enough
One leader had the vision to defeat the Soviet Union with ideas and economics not weapons
That was Reagan
Now another man has the vision to see the world not as it was in the past, but as it should be now and must be in the future
We cannot pay the price that would be demanded of us to rule and regulate the world - simply cannot
So whence for our future well being and security?
I believe this article is one of the best I've read
Total realism
A tri-polar world
Based on negotiation and cooperation, backed by true national strength
(which is military AND economic AND socially cohesive around our national identity )
No one says its going to be easy to transition and Trump is up against the very forces of hell resisting a future new international order
If ever there was a man for the job -we’ve got him
I bring you: Trump's Grand Strategy
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176451/tomgram:_michael_klare,_trump’s_grand_strategy/
I’m favorable to a deal where Iran backs off.
If we hadn’t become involved, I’d say pound sand.
When we did, we signed on to this sort of thing.
McCain, I’ll bet your just thrilled you got us into this aren’t you.
Well, Hussein won fella. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it. And realize Putin and Trump will probably work something out. I know you wanted WWIII, but I guess you’ll just have to go of to your big traitor hangout in the sky knowing your whole world is upside down.
Hillary would have done it. Not Trump.
Why the hell is Russia so heavily invested in this ME shithole? Weapons, Oil and Gas?
I fail to see how Syria pays them for anything at all.
Why should we even consider it? They never saw fit to let us help reduce or eliminate all the (BLEEPIN) carnage!!!
Having a few partners in the process works for me too...Russians are smart and hard working... might be a good idea to do a project together.
Having a few partners in the process works for me too...Russians are smart and hard working... might be a good idea to do a project together.
And I'm not just saying this because it would make liberal's heads explode...
Warm water port Tartus
Sounds like a nice little chess game going on, with us paying for the chessboard.
Putin is on drugs.
The Russians helped Assad burn it down, they can pay for it.
Unbelievable. So it’s ok to be Neo-Con and get stuck with the bill for empire so long as our allies are Iran, Hezbollah, Assad, and Putin?!
I just spent the evening hearing a pastor speak, he has been a missionary in Ukraine for the past 26 years with time in Russia in between...if he only knew how brainwashed so-called Americans were about Putin...and how deceived.
LORD, have mercy.
WRT the US spook agencies, they seemed to be paying/supplying some ISIS fighters. Right up Hillary's and Brennan's alley.
I see the effort as a way to maintain a small modicum of influence with the Syrian people. Working with Russians in Syria opens up pratical communication lines in the event there's a full scale war with Iran. In that situation we want Russia with us or neutral.
I have zero delusions about anything involved with the ME, or their home turf battles, or their 'word' or anything. We have no business even being there. Our total involvement beyond minimum 'self interest' should be to support Israel. Period.
Repatriate the refugees and let them rebuild it.
After knowing what is happening on thr ground in 1/3 of Ukraine, which Putin has basically turned into a de-facto Middle East smack in the middle of Europe, and all the propaganda Russians use to justify these actions that their ailing economy cannot afford...I think it is highly delusional and naive that Syrians will just want to repatriate back into the arms of dear sweet leader Bashar Assad. (’Christian protector?’ Hah!) Total B.S.
And yeah, I feel the same about Syria.
The people made a hellhole then they wanted an out. If we 'saved' the half that are being abused - they would turn around and abuse the half in power now.
If I thought playing tiddlywinks with the Russians would open communication lines that would prevent or shorten a war with Iran (which I see as a potential flash point to World War III) I would suggest it...
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is the name I come up with when I think of war with Iran...
I'm NOT in favor of stupid wars...
No thanks. We’d be doing for the sole benefit Assad and the Russians.
Obama could not defeat them in the last 3 years of his term.. Trump has all but wiped them out in a little over a year. BOTH PRESIDENTS HAD THE EXACT SAME MILITARY AVAILABLE TO HELP DO THE JOB. THIS SPEAKS VOLUMES.
Obama not only HELPED CREATE ISIS, he feigned trying to stop them when in actuality he ALLOWED their expansion to continue.
Obama also waged WAR IN LIBYA for the sole purpose of CLEARING A PATH FOR ISLAMIST RAPEUGEES INTO EUROPE!!!!
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