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Obama Falls Right Into Putin's Trap
12 September 2013 | Issue 5212
By Michael Bohm
President Vladimir Putin loves to*set traps for*U.S. President Barack Obama. The*only thing Putin loves even more is when Obama falls smack into*one.
Trap No. 1. Putin set his latest trap Monday with a*seemingly attractive proposal to*have international monitors identify and*destroy Syrian President Bashar Assad's vast stockpile of*chemical weapons.
If Obama falls for*this one, he and*international monitors will be jumping through hoops for*years*— first, trying to*agree on*acceptable language for*the United Nations Security Council resolution, and*then trying to*find the*dozens of*suspected chemical weapons sites that Assad is hiding or constantly moving around the*country. What's more, amid Syria's fierce civil war, inspectors will be constantly dodging bullets as they search for*Assad's sites.
President Vladimir Putin loves to*set traps for*U.S. President Barack Obama. The*only thing Putin loves even more is when Obama falls smack into*one.
Without a*foreign military intervention, Assad will never fully give up his chemical weapons. After all, they are his main trump card against the*rebels and*nuclear-armed Israel.
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein*— who, like Assad, had a*huge chemical weapons stockpile and*used them on*civilians throughout the*1980s and*in 1991*— played a*similar shell game with the*U.S., UN Security Council and*weapons inspectors from*1991 to*2003. During those 12 years, Hussein sent *inspectors on*wild-goose chases as he violated UN resolutions at*will. Meanwhile, Russia served as Hussein's chief apologist and*"defense lawyer" in*the UN*— and*it is fulfilling the*same exact role with Assad.
After Hussein's ruse, is Obama so naive to*fall for*the same hoax from*another brutal Middle East dictator?
Regardless of*all of*these factors, Putin's Potemkin disarmament idea for*Assad's chemical weapons is fundamentally flawed. It is like a*judge telling a*mass murderer, "OK, you don't have to*serve any time in*prison as long as you give up your automatic assault rifles." Assad should be punished for*committing crimes against humanity in*any event, and*his chemical weapons sites should be destroyed as a*given, not as an*alternative to*punishment.
Trap No. 2. Putin's second trap for*Obama is Russia's strategic obstructionism as a*permanent member in*the Security Council.
On*the surface, Putin is correct when he says only the*Security Council can mandate foreign intervention. But there is one extremely important condition to*that rule: All members of*the Security Council must observe the*Responsibility to*Protect doctrine, or R2P, to*protect civilians from*crimes against humanity. By*blatantly neglecting the*R2P principle, Russia is undermining the*foundation of*the Security Council, and*the UN, to*serve as a*guarantee of*global peace, security and*stability.
R2P*— which the*UN developed in*2005 after the*world was silent in*the face of*the 1994 Rwanda massacre that killed more than 500,000 civilians*— has become the*international norm to*define the*collective responsibility of*leading nations in*cases of*crimes against humanity. That responsibility is particularly strong when a*tyrant uses chemical weapons, which is a*breach of*at least three documents: the*1925 Geneva Protocol banning their use and*signed by*Syria in*1968, Security Council Resolution 1540 and*the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, signed by*189 countries.
By*obstructing the*U.S. in*the Security Council, Putin makes two huge propaganda scores for*domestic audiences. He automatically makes any U.S. military operation in*Syria "illegal" and*once again turns the*U.S. into*an "aggressor." Apparently, these *objectives are more important to*Putin than stopping civil war crimes. But then again, turning the*U.S. into*a bogeyman for*political gain has always been a*priority for*Putin since he came to*power 13 years ago.
Putin's other disingenuous position is that Assad's regime is the*"legitimate Syrian government" and*that any U.S. military attack would be a*violation of*Syria's sovereignty. Putin has a*strange understanding of*political legitimacy. Syria's pseudo-elections*— which have kept both former leaderHafez Assad and*his son Bashar in*office for*42 years despite the*fact that the*ruling Alawite regime represents only 11 percent of*the population*— are about as legitimate as North Korea's.
Putin has an*equally strange understanding of*Syria's "sovereignty." According to*basic UN principles regarding crimes against humanity, no country has the*"sovereign right" to*kill its own citizens. By*committing crimes against humanity, Syria a*priori loses all sovereign protection and*must answer to*the international community under the*R2P principle.
Trap No. 3. Putin may be covering his ground by*devising a*third trap in*the event that Obama doesn't fall for*his trap with weapons inspectors. While Trap No. 1 was intended to*avoid a*military invasion, Trap No. 3 may be intended to*actually provoke one*— something that is still very much on*the table, as Obama stressed in*his address to*the nation Tuesday.
As David Samuels suggested in*a Sept. 3 comment in*The Tablet magazine, Putin might have *implicitly encouraged Assad to*use chemical weapons with the*objective of*driving Obama into*a huge foreign policy and*military trap.
Although Obama never wanted to*get involved militarily in*Syria, he gave Putin a*golden opportunity to*force this option a*year ago when Obama made his fateful "red-line" threat to*intervene in*Syria if Assad used chemical weapons. Putin's *objective, the*argument goes, was to*force Obama's hand by*pushing Assad to*cross that red line.
Since that red line has now been crossed, Obama will look weak and*his credibility as a*global leader shattered if he doesn't respond with a*forceful missile attack against Assad's military installations. But if Obama does respond, he will step into*an even larger trap that will likely entangle the*U.S. for*years. A*U.S. attack will likely provoke a*response by*Tehran, which considers an*attack on*Syria as an*attack on*Iran.
If Iran, together with its close ally Hezbollah, targets a*U.S. embassy or carries out some other attack*— which it has already threatened to*do in*the event of*an attack on*Syria*— the*U.S. will once again be forced to*respond. From*there, it is a*slippery slope toward a*U.S. military quagmire in*a messy and*bloody regional conflict in*the greater Middle East. Obama's "limited military *response" could quickly escalate into*a decade-long U.S. problem*— much like the*Vietnam War, but only worse because of*the additional factor of*Islamic radicalism in*the region.
Putin certainly has a*lot to*gain by*drawing the*U.S. into*a regional war. He can sit back and**enjoy the*U.S. military failures*— as well as the*rise in*global oil prices*— while at*the same time endlessly preaching about the*global dangers when the*U.S. flouts international law and*engages in*military aggression against sovereign countries.
You have to*give Putin credit, though. He is a*master of*political intrigue and*provocation. Perhaps this is why he had such a*wide grin when he greeted Obama at*the Group of*20 summit last week*— a*far cry from*the bored, irritated slouch three months ago during the*Group of*8 meeting in*Northern *Ireland. Those dog days are over. Now, Putin is experiencing the*best days of*his 13-year rule.
The*only question is why was Obama also smiling when he met Putin in*St. Petersburg. Regardless of*which trap Obama falls into, the*last smile and*laugh will be Putin's.
Michael Bohm is opinion page editor of*The Moscow Times.
0
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I took an*active part in*the elections held in*two beautiful republics of*Siberia: Tyva and*Khakasia. They offered a*clear example of*the dysfunctional political and*economic system that has developed during President Vladimir Putin's rule, as well as the*chaotic way in*which it is disintegrating before our eyes.
Can Navalny Save Russia?
The*original phrase that every nation gets the*government it deserves was directed at*Russia. But do Russians really deserve Putinism?
The Roots of Russia's Homophobia
The*new anti-gay law punishes those who "propagandize" LGBT lifestyles. But the*real propagandizers are the*Orthodox church and*state, which are pushing their own political agenda.
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What happens in*Moscow during the*mayoral vote on*Sunday will have profound implications for*the country's future.
Also in Opinion
The Stage-Managed St. Petersburg Photo Op
Russia Saves Assad From U.S. Bombs
The Kremlin's Alternative to War in Syria
Going From Cool to Cold Relations
Finally, a Clean Election
To Our Readers
The Moscow Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters for publication should be signed and bear the signatory's address and telephone number.
Letters to the editor should be sent by fax to (7-495) 232-6529, by e-mail to [email protected], or by post. The Moscow Times reserves the right to edit letters.
Most Read
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Last week
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1.Russian Tarzan Found in Siberia After 16 Years in Forest
2.Navalny to Submit 'Truckload' of Complaints to Elections Commission
3.Russia Saves Assad From U.S. Bombs
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5.The Kremlin's Alternative to War in Syria
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Электронное периодическое издание «The Moscow Times» зарегистрировано в Федеральной службе по надзору за соблюдением законодательства в сфере массовых коммуникаций и охране культурного наследия 04 июля 2006 г. Свидетельство о регистрации Эл № ФС77–24949. 16+
Where to Pick Up MTSubscribeAdvertiseHome Real Estate Career Center Directory Conferences Guides Our Books 20 years
Archive | PDF
Mobile
. Last Updated: 09/12/2013 My profile: Login or register for free
Follow us on*
Home
News
Business
Opinion
Arts & Ideas
Beyond Moscow
Q&A
Environment
Careers
Sochi 2014
Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print Share on gmail Share on stumbleupon More Sharing Services
0
Obama Falls Right Into Putin's Trap
12 September 2013 | Issue 5212
By Michael Bohm
President Vladimir Putin loves to*set traps for*U.S. President Barack Obama. The*only thing Putin loves even more is when Obama falls smack into*one.
Trap No. 1. Putin set his latest trap Monday with a*seemingly attractive proposal to*have international monitors identify and*destroy Syrian President Bashar Assad's vast stockpile of*chemical weapons.
If Obama falls for*this one, he and*international monitors will be jumping through hoops for*years*— first, trying to*agree on*acceptable language for*the United Nations Security Council resolution, and*then trying to*find the*dozens of*suspected chemical weapons sites that Assad is hiding or constantly moving around the*country. What's more, amid Syria's fierce civil war, inspectors will be constantly dodging bullets as they search for*Assad's sites.
President Vladimir Putin loves to*set traps for*U.S. President Barack Obama. The*only thing Putin loves even more is when Obama falls smack into*one.
Without a*foreign military intervention, Assad will never fully give up his chemical weapons. After all, they are his main trump card against the*rebels and*nuclear-armed Israel.
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein*— who, like Assad, had a*huge chemical weapons stockpile and*used them on*civilians throughout the*1980s and*in 1991*— played a*similar shell game with the*U.S., UN Security Council and*weapons inspectors from*1991 to*2003. During those 12 years, Hussein sent *inspectors on*wild-goose chases as he violated UN resolutions at*will. Meanwhile, Russia served as Hussein's chief apologist and*"defense lawyer" in*the UN*— and*it is fulfilling the*same exact role with Assad.
After Hussein's ruse, is Obama so naive to*fall for*the same hoax from*another brutal Middle East dictator?
Regardless of*all of*these factors, Putin's Potemkin disarmament idea for*Assad's chemical weapons is fundamentally flawed. It is like a*judge telling a*mass murderer, "OK, you don't have to*serve any time in*prison as long as you give up your automatic assault rifles." Assad should be punished for*committing crimes against humanity in*any event, and*his chemical weapons sites should be destroyed as a*given, not as an*alternative to*punishment.
Trap No. 2. Putin's second trap for*Obama is Russia's strategic obstructionism as a*permanent member in*the Security Council.
On*the surface, Putin is correct when he says only the*Security Council can mandate foreign intervention. But there is one extremely important condition to*that rule: All members of*the Security Council must observe the*Responsibility to*Protect doctrine, or R2P, to*protect civilians from*crimes against humanity. By*blatantly neglecting the*R2P principle, Russia is undermining the*foundation of*the Security Council, and*the UN, to*serve as a*guarantee of*global peace, security and*stability.
R2P*— which the*UN developed in*2005 after the*world was silent in*the face of*the 1994 Rwanda massacre that killed more than 500,000 civilians*— has become the*international norm to*define the*collective responsibility of*leading nations in*cases of*crimes against humanity. That responsibility is particularly strong when a*tyrant uses chemical weapons, which is a*breach of*at least three documents: the*1925 Geneva Protocol banning their use and*signed by*Syria in*1968, Security Council Resolution 1540 and*the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, signed by*189 countries.
By*obstructing the*U.S. in*the Security Council, Putin makes two huge propaganda scores for*domestic audiences. He automatically makes any U.S. military operation in*Syria "illegal" and*once again turns the*U.S. into*an "aggressor." Apparently, these *objectives are more important to*Putin than stopping civil war crimes. But then again, turning the*U.S. into*a bogeyman for*political gain has always been a*priority for*Putin since he came to*power 13 years ago.
Putin's other disingenuous position is that Assad's regime is the*"legitimate Syrian government" and*that any U.S. military attack would be a*violation of*Syria's sovereignty. Putin has a*strange understanding of*political legitimacy. Syria's pseudo-elections*— which have kept both former leaderHafez Assad and*his son Bashar in*office for*42 years despite the*fact that the*ruling Alawite regime represents only 11 percent of*the population*— are about as legitimate as North Korea's.
Putin has an*equally strange understanding of*Syria's "sovereignty." According to*basic UN principles regarding crimes against humanity, no country has the*"sovereign right" to*kill its own citizens. By*committing crimes against humanity, Syria a*priori loses all sovereign protection and*must answer to*the international community under the*R2P principle.
Trap No. 3. Putin may be covering his ground by*devising a*third trap in*the event that Obama doesn't fall for*his trap with weapons inspectors. While Trap No. 1 was intended to*avoid a*military invasion, Trap No. 3 may be intended to*actually provoke one*— something that is still very much on*the table, as Obama stressed in*his address to*the nation Tuesday.
As David Samuels suggested in*a Sept. 3 comment in*The Tablet magazine, Putin might have *implicitly encouraged Assad to*use chemical weapons with the*objective of*driving Obama into*a huge foreign policy and*military trap.
Although Obama never wanted to*get involved militarily in*Syria, he gave Putin a*golden opportunity to*force this option a*year ago when Obama made his fateful "red-line" threat to*intervene in*Syria if Assad used chemical weapons. Putin's *objective, the*argument goes, was to*force Obama's hand by*pushing Assad to*cross that red line.
Since that red line has now been crossed, Obama will look weak and*his credibility as a*global leader shattered if he doesn't respond with a*forceful missile attack against Assad's military installations. But if Obama does respond, he will step into*an even larger trap that will likely entangle the*U.S. for*years. A*U.S. attack will likely provoke a*response by*Tehran, which considers an*attack on*Syria as an*attack on*Iran.
If Iran, together with its close ally Hezbollah, targets a*U.S. embassy or carries out some other attack*— which it has already threatened to*do in*the event of*an attack on*Syria*— the*U.S. will once again be forced to*respond. From*there, it is a*slippery slope toward a*U.S. military quagmire in*a messy and*bloody regional conflict in*the greater Middle East. Obama's "limited military *response" could quickly escalate into*a decade-long U.S. problem*— much like the*Vietnam War, but only worse because of*the additional factor of*Islamic radicalism in*the region.
Putin certainly has a*lot to*gain by*drawing the*U.S. into*a regional war. He can sit back and**enjoy the*U.S. military failures*— as well as the*rise in*global oil prices*— while at*the same time endlessly preaching about the*global dangers when the*U.S. flouts international law and*engages in*military aggression against sovereign countries.
You have to*give Putin credit, though. He is a*master of*political intrigue and*provocation. Perhaps this is why he had such a*wide grin when he greeted Obama at*the Group of*20 summit last week*— a*far cry from*the bored, irritated slouch three months ago during the*Group of*8 meeting in*Northern *Ireland. Those dog days are over. Now, Putin is experiencing the*best days of*his 13-year rule.
The*only question is why was Obama also smiling when he met Putin in*St. Petersburg. Regardless of*which trap Obama falls into, the*last smile and*laugh will be Putin's.
Michael Bohm is opinion page editor of*The Moscow Times.
0
inShare
From around the Web
Bermuda Triangle Hidden Mysteries Revealed!
Shocking News From Japan
NASA Says They Have Discovered The Second Earth But..
The 10 Biggest Holes In The World
Also in Opinion
The Kremlin's Alternative to War in Syria
Obama should not dismiss diplomacy before it is tried and*should work closely with Russia to*help solve the*Syrian crisis.
Going From Cool to Cold Relations
Not only are U.S.-Russian relations at*their lowest point since the*end of*the Cold War, but personal relations between the*leaders of*both countries have never been worse.
Corrupt Clans Lead Siberian Regions to Ruin
I took an*active part in*the elections held in*two beautiful republics of*Siberia: Tyva and*Khakasia. They offered a*clear example of*the dysfunctional political and*economic system that has developed during President Vladimir Putin's rule, as well as the*chaotic way in*which it is disintegrating before our eyes.
Can Navalny Save Russia?
The*original phrase that every nation gets the*government it deserves was directed at*Russia. But do Russians really deserve Putinism?
The Roots of Russia's Homophobia
The*new anti-gay law punishes those who "propagandize" LGBT lifestyles. But the*real propagandizers are the*Orthodox church and*state, which are pushing their own political agenda.
The Battle for Moscow
What happens in*Moscow during the*mayoral vote on*Sunday will have profound implications for*the country's future.
Also in Opinion
The Stage-Managed St. Petersburg Photo Op
Russia Saves Assad From U.S. Bombs
The Kremlin's Alternative to War in Syria
Going From Cool to Cold Relations
Finally, a Clean Election
To Our Readers
The Moscow Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters for publication should be signed and bear the signatory's address and telephone number.
Letters to the editor should be sent by fax to (7-495) 232-6529, by e-mail to [email protected], or by post. The Moscow Times reserves the right to edit letters.
Most Read
Today
Last week
Last month
1.Russian Tarzan Found in Siberia After 16 Years in Forest
2.Navalny to Submit 'Truckload' of Complaints to Elections Commission
3.Russia Saves Assad From U.S. Bombs
4.Russia's Disabled 'Face Uphill Battle'
5.The Kremlin's Alternative to War in Syria
IT'S INTERESTING
Naked Women Take Over Russian Museum
advertisingMOSCOW DIRECTORY
Mini Guide
RE
Classifieds
Wide range of foods from China...
The*first museum in*Russia that is dedicated to*the art of*handwriting.
WINE BAR & CAFE
Over 170 wines on the wine list, mainly from Italy, France and Spain...
View All Mini Guide >>
Place a Directory Ad >>
*
*
SERVICES
Main*• News*• Business*• Opinion*• Arts & Ideas*• Calendar*• Blogs*• Multimedia
B for B*• Appointments
Subscriptions*• Reprints*• Advertising
TOOLS & FORMATS
RSS Feeds*• Mobile version*• PDF edition*• Archive search*• Widget*• Safari Extension*• Firefox Toolbar
Add in*iGoogle
PROJECTS
Create Yourself*• Student Project*• Lost in Translation*• Moscow Youth Soccer League*• Our Books
CONFERENCES
Events*• Business Special
REAL ESTATE
Home*• Residential*• Commercial*• Beyond Moscow
CAREER CENTER
Home*• Employees*• Employers
GUIDES
Home*• Russia for...*• Country Supplements
DIRECTORY
Mini Guide*• Real Estate*• Classifieds
*
Contact Us*• Licensing Agreement*• Feedback*• SiteMap
© Copyright 1992-2013. The Moscow Times. All rights reserved.
Электронное периодическое издание «The Moscow Times» зарегистрировано в Федеральной службе по надзору за соблюдением законодательства в сфере массовых коммуникаций и охране культурного наследия 04 июля 2006 г. Свидетельство о регистрации Эл № ФС77–24949. 16+
