It appears president obama's threat of military action against syria is of great worry to moscow and damascus, as today russian foreign minister annouced that the russian government has asked the syrian government to hand over it's stock pile of chemical weapons to the international community after which it will be destroyed.

Moments after the russian foreign minister made his annoucement, the syrian foreign minister annouced that the syrian government accepts russia's proposal. This is an unprecedented move that has many consequences. Paramount of which will be if the u.s will still strike syria...

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24022866

http://m.aljazeera.com/se/201399144556640217

They are simply trying to buy time for Assad.

This is a masterstroke by Putin, now Obama is in dilemma, next time he will think twice before drawing a red line

British Prime Minister David Cameron said such a move "would be a big step forward", but warned the international community needed to ensure that discussion of the idea did not become a "distraction" to "the problem on the table".

Putin is really making Obama look like a demon.and war monger.

Indeed, they have Obama in a corner now. No one in the world except France, Qatar and Saudi are with him not even the U.S congress.

If only the world knew that this stress all about

-Gazprom (Russia)
-Qatari Natural gas
-An oil/gas pipeline route
-Western oil companies
-European Oil/gas markets
-Petro-bucks...lots of it !

This is a masterstroke by the Russian foreign minister, he capitalized on the blunder by Kerry when asked what assad would do to stave off attack by US. He thought Assad would never agree to a UN inspection of its chemical weapons. Even if Assad agrees to inspection, they could hide most of the chemical weapons before the inspectors arrive, rubbishing the whole exercise.

Obama has lost momentum, if it was Bush, he would have launched missile strikes first before diplomatic maneuvers and rhetoric, this would have forced the hands of its allies and congress into supporting the war.

This Putin is a versatile Chess-master. Now, obama is looking more du.m.b and st.u.pid.
Viva Putin!

hmmm

Why is everybody dumping on obama? If this promise is truely fast tracked and syrian chemical weapons are destroyed, obama can claim victory and report to the american people that syrian chemical weapons are no longer a threat to their allies and opposition. Unlike bush military forces was'nt the key but the detterent. If obama had'nt scared the russians and syrians, do you think they will agree to such a drastic measure....and if putin think he can use this as a delay tactic. Obama will see through it and go ahead with strikes, and russia will do nothing.

surrender or not, Assad broke the international treaty on the use of chemical weapons and he has to be punished.

Just like that!

This is proof that they used chemical weapons on their citizens, so what is the world waiting for? Its time for punishment. Or will they be allowed to go free because they surrendered chemical weapons?

@OP. When next you want to create a thread, make sure the News from the source is pasted with link to the source before you make your biased personal opinion.

Same rhetorical ultimatum was given to Saddam. Only he never had any chemical stockpiles whilst Assad certainly has. Handing over all your chemical stocks in a week is almost near impossible.

Lest the American government forgets, their chemical weapons campaign (Agent Orange) in Vietnam still reverberates today. Only difference is no one can of course hold them to ransom.

Finally, Putin is offering Obama a way out of this mess.

end time tinz

SKIPCY: surrender or not, Assad broke the international treaty on the use of chemical weapons and he has to be punished.

FYI Syria is not a signatory to the chemical weapons convention. Israel is also not a signatory so 3 years ago they used white phosphorous against Palestinian civilians and there was no red line then.

I doubt Assad is mad enough to use chemical weapons on the very day UN inspectors arrived in Damascus. It wasnt like the city was about to be overrun and he used it as last resort. It was just an unnecessary use of sarin. I suspect Al Qaeda did this (false flag) on behalf of the imperialists so they can intervene and act as Al Qaeda's Airforce.

I think the US and Russia understands the game they r playing, fooling the whole world. All this conspiracy are in a bid to protect Israel from any chemical weapon attack in the nearest future. Iran will soon be forced to surrender her chemical weapon too while Isreal keep their.

Any Arab country that accept Russia as an ally is fooling himself. They only sell arms, allow US destroy the arm, and sell a more 'sophosticated' one and again allow US destroy dem, but will never intervene to protect them frm invasion.

The arabs are complete mugu, this pple (US and Russia) are happy doing nice arms bizness, the wont fight demselves.

I think the US and Russia understands the game they r playing, fooling the whole world. All this conspiracy are in a bid to protect Israel from any chemical weapon attack in the nearest future. Iran will soon be forced to surrender her chemical weapon too while Isreal keep their.

Any Arab country that accept Russia as an ally is fooling himself. They only sell arms, allow US destroy the arm, and sell a more 'sophosticated' one and again allow US destroy dem, but will never intervene to protect them frm invasion.

The arabs are complete mugu, this pple (US and Russia) are happy doing nice arms bizness, they wont fight demselves.

Either way, Obama is winning.
Did u ever think Russia wud want to risk d consequencies of a retaliiatory strike on tje US just because of Syria? It's all game on d Arabs.
a way of syphoning funds from dem.

igbeke: Either way, Obama is winning.
Did u ever think Russia wud want to risk d consequencies of a retaliiatory strike on tje US just because of Syria? It's all game on d Arabs.
a way of syphoning funds from dem.

exactly. Russia will never think to attacking the u.s or it's alies over syria. If russia attacks the u.s, the whole of nato will turn on russia. Meanwhile russia has no allies, it's only friend, china will never go to war at this stage of their growth. They will do nothing to slow down their rise to the top.

if Assad hands over his weapons to d international community, he definitely wouldn't giv dem all, he could so easily use some back in Syria and claim d rebels did it. Very tactical, everyone must be careful dealing with this man and Russia.