John Kerry, Accidental Genius?

Per this NY Times account, John Kerry's suggestion that Syria could spare tha world a lot of aggro by unilaterally turning over its chemical weapons (a proposal Kerry promptly and premptively poo-poohed as improbable) has picked up Russian support:

[Russian foreign minister] Lavrov appeared at a previously unscheduled briefing only hours after Mr. Kerry made his statement in London, seizing on it as a possible compromise.

“We don’t know whether Syria will agree with this, but if the establishment of international control over chemical weapons in the country will prevent attacks, then we will immediately begin work with Damascus,” Mr. Lavrov said at the Foreign Ministry. “And we call on the Syrian leadership to not only agree to setting the chemical weapons storage sites under international control, but also to their subsequent destruction.”

Mr. Moallem said later in a statement that his government welcomed the Russian proposal, Russia’s Interfax News Agency reported, in what appeared to be the first acknowledgment by the Syrian government that it even possesses chemical weapons. The Syrian government historically has neither confirmed nor denied possessing such weapons.

I don't think Kerry is outsmarting anyone (what's unbelievably small is his common sense), so this might just be an alternative way for Syria to run out the clock as they haggle over terms.

On the other hand, Russia might be looking for a face-saving way to bring Syria a bit closer to international norms, or at least to gracefully distance themselves from them.

And it certainly gives Obama a face-saving excuse to do nothing for a few weeks. Win-win-win!

NOBODY'S FOOL: The Times is all over the four-corner ploy:

Obama administration officials have discussed the idea of presenting Mr. Assad with an ultimatum. But officials are wary of giving the Syrian leader an opportunity to play for time, and carrying out inspections to make sure the Syrian government has not retained hidden stocks of poison gas as fighting rages appeared to be a near impossibility.

LIVE IMPROV WITH J KERRY: From CNN:

But as Russia and Syria later suggested that it could be done, the State Department later sought to clarify Kerry's comment as a "rhetorical argument."

One U.S. official called Kerry's remarks a "major goof," adding that America's top diplomat "clearly went off script."

"There is no one in the administration who is taking this Syria proposal seriously," the official said.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE! Team Obama will study the Russian proposal, Harry Reid will delay the Senate vote, and the diplomats win.  Stephen Hayes explains that Team Obama will insist that it was Obama's forceful resolve that led to this happy talkfest. Uh huh - the threat of an "unbelievably small" attack focused Syrian minds.

Groan. Will it be days, weeks or months before Obama and his press lackeys are telling the world that only Obama's calm patience and steely resolve held off the warmongering Republicans? I think "days".

Comments

[narciso]

The thing it takes no effort to mine these gems, on Taranto's part;

"But despite the presence of U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, the EU declined to back a military strike without approval of such intervention by the United Nations."--David Cloud, Los Angeles Times, Sept. 8

[matt]

They apparently have a fairly large volume cover 2001, DoT. If I was the Post I would serialize it as "Fifty Shades of Blue".

Episode 43 - My Day with the Dictator of my Dreams - Oil for Votes.

Episode 44 - Hyannisport - all the good stuff.

The guy was getting more traffic that the hookers lined up at the Lincoln Tunnel.

[Extraneus]

Ace:

"Don't worry, it won't hurt, I promise it will be unbelievably small?" Sounds like a Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., pick-up line.

[Extraneus]

Er... maybe this guy didn't notice, but Kerry is running again. http://t.co/WAUuVuZ3yp #bankonit

— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) September 9, 2013

[Ranger]

Game over: Pew poll shows opposition to Syria strike up 15 points in just a week

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/09/09/game-over-pew-poll-shows-opposition-to-syria-strike-up-15-points-in-just-a-week/

This is like quicksand. The harder the White House flails, the further down the numbers go.

[narciso]

Gabe has got to watch it with the Chinese takeout, causes nausea and delirium, but mostly nausea.

[narciso]

Most have ordered the same takeout;

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/09/09/gaffe-tastic-hillary-pretty-excited-about-kerrys-accidental-proposal-for-international-control-of-syrias-wmd-arsenal/

[Skoot]

Vlad's next move is to announce the inspection team is in place and he will be forced to knock down any incoming ordnance for their security. Just bizness you see.

[NK(tryin')]

That AllahPundit post was brilliant;

Skoot-- you write that as if it's satire, I bet Vlad does something very much like that-- a bit of insurance to make sure Obummer doesn't go all cowboy.

[Danube on iPad]

In his interview with Bret Baier, Obama all but claimed the Kerry idea as his own. I think Putin has pulled his chestnuts out of the fire. At this point I'd guess that there won't be a vote.

[Account Deleted]

NK,

A better move for Putin would be to claim intelligence showing sarin to have been hidden in areas now occupied by Cannibals. Then he could cut loose Russian bombers and see if thermobaric bombs are still effective. Using thermobaric bombs to save Syrians from death by Mahometan RAID! has a nice element of symmetry.

[narciso]

That air base the rebels raided in Aleppo, some weeks back, that didn't have any interesting cargo,

[pinkman]

I've been hearing this more. Drought may have been a leading edge for the Syrian civil war. It's a harbinger for us.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/09/did-global-warming-cause-the-syrian-civil-war/

[Skoot]

The funny thing about the Kerry "idea" is that as soon as it left his lips, he realized the implications of it and tried to undo it. There was just no way for him to suck it back into that catchers mitt face of his, however.

[narciso]

That was a sideshow bob level pratfall;

[jimmyk]

It seems that the NY Post has sole possession, but you can count on them revealing more. I don't think even the Kennedys have enough money to pay off the Post the way they did the Kopechne family.

[Extraneus]

I think Putin has pulled his chestnuts out of the fire.

Me, too, but why?

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

Don't worry, narc; Gabe is tight with Top Men.

[Account Deleted]

"why?"

Putin's audience is not the Lackwitz Sisters. He gave up Daffy, a poor client in terms of reliability but a client, nevertheless, and he's not going to give up another to salve the idiotic fantasies of the Harvard Faculty Lounge currently mismanaging US foreign policy.

He's been putting longer ears on President Jackass for two months now and this offer is no "gift".

[narciso]

Seriously you look at this epic beclowing,
they ran out of shoes,

[Ranger]

RCP has the averages:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/us_military_strikes_in_syria-4087.html

Bottom line: Oppose +28.8

[centralcal]

The unbiased TV anchors at the White House before their Obama performances interviews:

Wolfie is feeling his oats!

[Gus]

Apparently bending over and grabbing his ankles is what Obama meant by "flexibility" vis a vis Putin or is the PUT IN.

[narciso]

Did anyone not watch the first episode of the new crossfire,

[NK(tryin')]

Is that Leslie Stahl?... if so drunk as usual.

[henry]

Ace has Reid dealing the Senate vote... He puts McConnel as a no thus the JEF would lose a Senate vote if it is held.

[MaryD]

NK,I think it's Diane Sawyer,fatuous and kittenish as usual

[henry]

Delaying the vote.

[centralcal]

I am starting to despise Boehner and Cantor.

Per an article at Breitbart, they seem to have it all figured out how to fool us into thinking that they voted for defunding Obamacare.

[Ignatz]

--The unbiased TV anchors at the White House before their Obama performances interviews:--

Where's the madam?

[centralcal]

NK, MaryD is correct - it is Diane Sawyer.

[narciso]

There isn't enough alcohol to sit through that walk back with a straight face,

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

Welcome to the party on the two flying squirrels at the top of the House, cc.

[centralcal]

Where's the madam?

If you mean Obama - probably off to the side polishing his overly toothy grin for the cameras.

[narciso]

now, the sources are anonymous, but they've built up such a track record, I believe it,

[Extraneus]

Who's the one on the right?

[MaryD]

centralcal,your 7:31 post prompts me to ask a question I've had for quite sometime. Who paid for Obama's very expensive full mouth of glistening white fake teeth? We are told he was broke and living off credit cards for most of his adult life, and drug abusers don't tend to wind up with good teeth, much less white ones. Any thoughts?

[Elliott]

Alea retracta est.

[narciso]

Savannah Guthrie I think.

[Gmax]

As I said two days ago, Harry Reid was talking out his @ss about being confident of the passage. He had no idea if it would pass. And sure enough the vote is now on hold or delayed or not going to happen. Why is that if he had the votes? I say he can not even get to 51

[pinkman]

Nixon called Diane Sawyer, 'that smart girl in Zieglers office'.

[centralcal]

Ext: narciso is correct. Savannah Guthrie. She's been busy interviewing Anthony Weiner on a NY park bench and again another day in studio, and now Obama.

[centralcal]

Ha, MaryD. Dental implants, crowns, caps? Only his dentist can know for sure.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7518096_dental-records-can-identify-people.html

[Account Deleted]

Gmax,

I believe he's boxed in by Dem Senators on cloture, IOW, cloture will fail and it won't be the evil GOP's fault. It would be a smart political move by the Dem caucus to kill off BOzo's Fantasy that way.

BOzo ain't got the cards nor the credit to play at the moment.

[Threadkiller]

I hope Savannah brought her pocket camera.

[narciso]

Of coursr all the clean togas will say don't rock the boat, but that boat is the Titanic,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgt87inKDUE

[MaryD]

centralcal,any one of the tooth enhancements you mention could be in play, but my overriding question is "Who paid for them"? I just don't think it was Obama.

[centralcal]

MaryD - Maybe the same person who paid for all his expensive colleges?

[narciso]

Does this mean, I ahould stick to X Men first class, as the more realistic option

[MaryD]

Ah ha, centralcal,you may have nailed it! excellent thought.

[Gmax]

Maybe the same person who paid for all his expensive colleges?

You mean me ( and you). African Americans don't pay for college silly girl. They get lower admission standards and then the Ivy league institution determines a need ( not necessarily a FAFSA need either ).

[Thomas G. Ayers]

Don't worry about who paid for the teeth.

[Gmax]

I am even more convinced Reid is holding deuces, and not many of those either. The vote postponed is a TEST VOTE. So its clear that he aint got the votes to win the test. Its not binding but its indefinitely delayed? No other way to read that one.

[narciso]

Le Chiffre, bluffed better,

[Extraneus]

Why should they have a test vote? They're not going to have a vote at all. They'll take the Putin fig leaf and pay whatever Vlad asked for it.

[Danube on iPad]

This thing is over. No vote, no strike. Endless palaver, bickering over the shape of the table, delays in inspections purportedly because of the fighting, blah blah blah.

It's over.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/business/cal-worthington-car-dealer-with-an-incessant-jingle-dies-at-92.html?pagewanted=all

[Marko]

Ahem.

Not a shot fired.

Iran gets the bomb.

DOOM.

[Ignatz]

Boehner and Cantor.
If we're not going to bomb Damascus could we somehow coax Mr. Assad into dropping some of that Sarin on Capitol Hill?

[Gmax]

How do you do any inspections done with a hot war going on? Its not like we have not seen how worthless blue helmet UN troops are when hostilities break out. If the inspections are done from the comfort of Turtle Bay or Brussels, its a damn farce and not even a well played one. Jimmy Carter was not that naïve.

[Steve]

Full Interview: President Obama interviewed by Fox News Chris Wallace:

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2013/09/video-barack-obama-addresses-syria.html

[Army of Davids]

watch out Assad/Syria

John F Kerry says the "unbelievably small" spitwads are a coming

where is a good Georgia Senator to call out this nonsense when you need one

[Clarice]

DoT, the diary is in the hands f the NY Post. Any other accounts and there are some are derivative. The NY Post has had two articles so far--one on the sex stuff; the other his opinions of JJJr, Sharpton, Curomo,

I am certain they are going to dole it out page by page.

[Jane-Rebel Alliance]

I'm listening to the Wallace interview. Obama is rewriting history and sliming right out of this.

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

Nothing but smoke and mirrors. A charade. Just the thing for DuDu and his fellow LIV's. But I agree with DOT. This is over. Channeling Forest Gump, feckless is as feckless does.

[narciso]

Cuomo did strike me as somewhat robot like, of course, he can't gauge a decent person like W, I still admired his father, because he did display integrity, after a fashion.

[narciso]

Bill Keller, delivers a very special beclowning to himself.

[narciso]

Speaking of beclowning;

http://twitchy.com/2013/09/09/cnn-miami-police-found-no-gun-at-george-zimmerman-domestic-disturbance-call/

Heck of a job, Roger, hiring Kurtz

[narciso]

Stupidity is not sctionable, but he's not helping his cause;

http://legalinsurrection.com/2013/09/syrian-tv-analyst-not-an-obama-fan/#comments

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

Was that *the* centralcal on Twichy?

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

Kurtz looks like he needs to be dipped for fleas.

[Stephanie]

Anyone else watching the train wreck on ESPN? Yikes.

[Clarice]

I have a favor to ask--an I bet those using iphones and similar devices feel the same way. I wonder if when you link to something you could give a hint of what it's about. Leaving here and following a link is time consuming now --for some reason hitting the back icon doesn't return me to JOM and I have to go thru a folderol to get back. Thanks.

[Ranger]

Well, it looks like the floor is the limit for Barry:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html

I'm sure he's looking for a giant rebound on these numbers based on his transformation from warmonger to peacenik. We'll see how it plays out over the next couple of weeks.

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

I'm very glad not to have the ability to watch ESPN tonight.

[DebinNC]

John Haywood at RedState nailed it: "diplomacy by gaffe"

[narciso]

They didn't follow on the airstrike suggestion,

[centralcal]

Yes, that was me, Captain. Kurtz is such a putz!

[2JIB4]

Mrs. JiB and I (along with Frederick, natch) celebrated our 13th anniversary tonight (how did Hit miss that?). Had a great dinner at The Plaza Cafe in Southampton and look forward to going back to Florida tomorrow.

I just want to say that my beloved Redskins suck big time and I blame the Shanahan family of doofuses for what is happening. They are so surprised by the Chip Kelley offense. Of course, they are since they don't have a defensive bone in their body. What a disgrace for a playoff team.

[narciso]

Isn't anticipating the defense, part of the whole game thing,

[jimmyk]

Happy Anniversary, JiB!

Barry may think he's wriggling out of this, but all he's really doing is damage control.

[narciso]

Ah, Musket Morgan doesn't dissapoint, meaning he does,

[narciso]

Happy annivrersaey, JiB

[Jane on Ipad hi there NSA]

The left is calling him brilliant and responsive to his base. They are also saying those stupid republicans were more in favor of war. I assume they are also thrilled to have the Chicago Jesus home.

[2JIB4]

RGIII is in his first exhibition game. Need to bring in Kirk Cousins just to save the embarrassment.

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

cc, I saw that and went "Whoa".

For all you Delmarva area JOMers: Mrs H and I are going to see my idiot brother in Ocean City the weekend after next (to show you how little I think of him, when I met up with Janet, rich, Soylant and Walter at chez Clarice last summer, I didn't go the extra paltry miles to touch base; yes I can be a prick about some things) and on the way she wants to stop at Saint Michaels by Easton because somebody she works with told her good things about it. Can any of you recommend any place there for just a quick stop?

[Army of Davids]

Extreme anger is the right reponse if Boehner and Cantor don't take a hard shot at ObamaCare.

Barry's RCP job approval avg is at 42.9% and falling w/ Democrats in disarray..

House leadership needs to grow a pair

[Dave (in MA)]

You've all heard of Drudgetaposition, where Drudge artfully juxtaposes photos from current events to make a point. Presenting Claricetaposition. Behold:

The first link goes here, to bgates' latest poster.

[Clarice]

I'm afraid I can't recommend any place special Capt. It's beautiful there especially this time of year, but we always just wander about and go where things look interesting.

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

Happy anniversary JiB. Sorry the Redskins had to drop a steamer on it and you have to listen to Chuckie "analyze" it; although the poor Bolt fans get Berman::shootme::

[Captain Hate on an iPhone]

Can do, C; just glad to hear you like it there.

[narciso]

Gnashing of teeth, and rending of garments is a good summary,

[jimmyk]

Had to take a shower after watching a bit of Charlie Rose interviewing Assad--as much because of Charlie as Bashar. Bashar was pulling the usual stunt about how chemical weapons and nuclear weapons are both WMD, and since Israel has nuclear weapons, they can't forswear chemical (not that they have any, wink, wink). And Charlie couldn't get it together to make a distinction between tactical and strategic weapons, or the reasons for having them, so Bashar got away with his point.

[Ignatz]

Happy anniversary Mr and Mrs Back.

[narciso]

They did have that North Korean reactor, at Deir er Zeur, what was that for, warming tea. but Rose did remind that Bashir was the apple of their eye, once upon a time.

[Danube on iPad]

"How do you do any inspections done with a hot war going on?"

You don't, but that's not the point. What you do is announce the plan for inspections and destruction of the weapons, declare victory and change the subject. All parties know that Syria will still have CW ten years from now, but for now Assad avoids a missile strike and Obama stops the progress of the ongoing humiliation.

[centralcal]

Oh, Dot, you are such a downer. I want Obama to suffer "ongoing humiliation." And, it doesn't have to be confined to just Syria. (wink)

[Clarice]

Bsides as I understand it from Steve Bryen who watches this things we have no way to stop shipments to Syria of precursors and that means two minutes after he turns over whatever he turns over to Putin Assad can rebuild his stocks.

In any event no one in his right mind can believe our "incredibly tiny" action would achieve more than this nothigburger.

[narciso]

I do remember both of them, trying to discourage the idiocy of that type of trade with Iraq, to no avail,