"We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilized diplomatic and political settlement." That's the latest from Vlad Putin who has been getting some genuinely respectful treatment thanks to his handling of the WMD situation. But now, in the same op-ed piece in the New York Times, Putin accuses Obama of trying to keep the UN from interfering in Syria.
In fact, it's Russia's serial vetoes in the Security Council (along with China's) that have kept the UN out of the equation.
Without any acknowledgement that Russia has repeatedly used its Security Council veto to block efforts by the international community to rein in Assad, Putin starts by chiding President Obama for attempting to circumvent the United Nations.
"The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not. Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression." Putin goes on to argue against an attack on Syria, saying it would increase violence, destabilize the Middle East, and "unleash a new wave of terrorism." He repeats his claim that the opposition forces are not as moderate as the United States has suggested, and accuses the rebels of carrying out the attack on August 21 (though multiple nations have concluded that they weren't responsible, and U.N. inspectors have reportedly found a "wealth" of evidence pointing to Assad). ...Daily Intel
Once again, he sounds silly -- not like a world leader. He exhibits the kind of posturing we expect from, say, North Korea's leadership. He's blown this moment in the sun.
That said, I agree wholeheartedly with his warning about American "exceptionalism."
My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal. ...NYT
