Until the last Syrian?

Rajeh al-Khoury states in this article that the US and Russia failed to achieve any progress in Vienna on Tuesday, dragging Syria into a new phase of murder and destruction. He argues that the talks collapsed to the extent that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier left the talks stating that “the diplomatic discussions were controversial!”

Al-Khoury argues that Kerry’s refrainment from promoting illusions was quite surprising that even world diplomats were in shock when he said: “He has violated Syria’s UN resolution… we have many options to deal with Assad if he does not abide by the political solution.”

The writer then mentions the US’ “plan B” for Syria which was supposed to be an escape plan if resolution 2254 fails, and when it did, “plan B” turned out to be a scam by a nation which had absolutely no idea how to solve the Syrian conflict.

“So what does it mean when Kerry warns of the ‘US many options to dealing with Assad?’” the writer argues.  Al-Khoury continues by stating that the US’ failure was very obvious during the talks as Lavrov continued with his games, Kerry was completely lost. The writer then gives reasons for US’ current situation; firstly, due to its hesitant policy in Syria which went public when Obama ignored his own ‘red line’ in 2013; secondly, because the current situation marks the hibernate electoral state in America, and for this it was not surprising for Kerry to state: “The date set in August, that was specified mainly to the warring parties in Syria and aims to agree on a framework of a political transition, is just a goal and not a date!”

The writer reiterates Kerry’s words: “Just a goal and not a date!”

Al-Khoury then argues that Lavrov must have noticed the despair on the faces of the diplomats at the Vienna talks for him to deliberately fail any potential peace process.

The writer clarifies that the Vienna talks did not fail, rather what failed was finding a solution to Syria’s conflict; diving Syria from its own hell into a new kind of hell, Kerry from one illusion to illusions. And there is no sense in talking about “US’ many options for dealing with Assad” for Assad – along with the Russians and the Iranians – is not and will not abide.

Al-Khoury then mentions the former US Ambassador James Jeffrey saying that “in fact, there is not a ‘Plan B’ for Syria, and what is worse is that we are watching the Russians and the Iranians make victories on behalf of Syria!”

The author concludes his article by quoting one of the diplomats who participated in the Vienna meeting as saying to Reuters: “Both Russia and the US do not have guarantors to convince the Syrian opposition that the negotiations are worthwhile, it is sad that Kerry is trying to show optimism that cannot be implemented!”

Rajeh al-Khoury in Asharq al-Awsat.