Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S.
President Barack Obama are at the chess board again, addressing the
American people, congressional leaders and the world at large on the threat of
a strike against Syria.
Putin confirms his Chess
Grandmaster status by once more checkmating Obama by penning an op-ed in
The New York Times that will increase doubts on a strike against Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad.
In “A
Plea for Caution From Russia, What Putin
Has to Say to Americans About Syria,” he writes: “The potential strike
by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many
countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will
result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the
conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and
unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to
resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and
further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire
system of international law and order out of balance...”
Obama had earlier emailed Americans,
saying, “I need your
help to make sure that everyone understands the factors at play.
“Please share this message with others to make sure they know
where I stand and how they can stay up to date on this situation…”
The following is the email sent by the U.S. president and received
by a friend in Dubai on Wednesday:
* * * * *
Good evening –
I just addressed the nation about the use of chemical weapons
in Syria.
Over the past two years, what began as a series of peaceful
protests against the repressive regime of Bashar al-Assad has turned into a
brutal civil war in Syria. Over 100,000 people have been killed.
In that time, we have worked with friends and allies to
provide humanitarian support for the Syrian people, to help the moderate
opposition within Syria, and to shape a political settlement. But we have
resisted calls for military action because we cannot resolve someone else's
civil war through force.
The situation profoundly changed in the early hours of August
21, when more than 1,000 Syrians -- including hundreds of children -- were
killed by chemical weapons launched by the Assad government.
What happened to those people -- to those children -- is not
only a violation of international law -- it's also a danger to our security.
Here's why:
If we fail to act, the Assad regime will see no reason to
stop using chemical weapons. As the ban against these deadly weapons erodes,
other tyrants and authoritarian regimes will have no reason to think twice
about acquiring poison gases and using them. Over time, our troops could face
the prospect of chemical warfare on the battlefield. It could be easier for
terrorist organizations to obtain these weapons and use them to attack
civilians. If fighting spills beyond Syria's borders, these weapons could
threaten our allies in the region.
So after careful deliberation, I determined that it is in the
national security interests of the United States to respond to the Assad
regime's use of chemical weapons through a targeted military strike. The
purpose of this strike would be to deter Assad from using chemical weapons, to
degrade his regime's ability to use them, and make clear to the world that we
will not tolerate their use.
Though I possess the authority to order these strikes, in the
absence of a direct threat to our security I believe that Congress should
consider my decision to act. Our democracy is stronger when the President acts
with the support of Congress -- and when Americans stand together as one
people.
Over the last few days, as this debate unfolds, we've already
begun to see signs that the credible threat of U.S. military action may produce
a diplomatic breakthrough. The Russian government has indicated a willingness
to join with the international community in pushing Assad to give up his
chemical weapons and the Assad regime has now admitted that it has these
weapons, and even said they'd join the Chemical Weapons Convention, which
prohibits their use.
It's too early to tell whether this offer will succeed, and
any agreement must verify that the Assad regime keeps its commitments. But this
initiative has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without
the use of force.
That's why I've asked the leaders of Congress to postpone a
vote to authorize the use of force while we pursue this diplomatic path. I'm
sending Secretary of State John Kerry to meet his Russian counterpart on
Thursday, and I will continue my own discussions with President Putin. At the
same time, we'll work with two of our closest allies -- France and the United
Kingdom -- to put forward a resolution at the U.N. Security Council requiring
Assad to give up his chemical weapons, and to ultimately destroy them under
international control.
Meanwhile, I've ordered our military to maintain their
current posture to keep the pressure on Assad, and to be in a position to
respond if diplomacy fails. And tonight, I give thanks again to our military
and their families for their incredible strength and sacrifices.
As we continue this debate -- in Washington and across the
country -- I need your help to make sure that everyone understands the factors
at play.
Please share this message with others to make sure they know
where I stand, and how they can stay up to date on this situation. Anyone can
find the latest information about the situation in Syria, including video of
tonight's address, here:
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
