Obama prepared to work with Putin to broker Syria transition
Despite widespread condemnation of Russian airstrikes in Syria, signs of progress on UN-brokered talks on a political transition; Iran’s ties with Saudi Arabia and Egypt; the trend toward counterterrorism; United States should not treat Iraq as a "weak partner."
Lavrov: "There must be political change in Syria"
Although Russia’s airstrikes in support of the Syrian military provoked widespread condemnation from the United States and its coalition allies, there may also be traction for a new phase of UN-brokered talks on a political transition in Syria.
US President Barack Obama warned Oct. 2 that Russia’s actions could lead Moscow into a “quagmire” in Syria, and that indiscriminate attacks on “moderate” armed groups opposed to both the Islamic State (IS) and the Syrian government is a "recipe for disaster."
But Obama also offered to work with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a political transition in Syria that does not seem to precondition Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s imminent departure.
