Syria remains an explosive problem: Column (USA News)

Barack Obama owes Vladimir Putin. Big time. That is the main determination one can make from the president's broadly broadcast address on Syria on Tuesday night. In it, Obama talked extreme, highlighting the need to consider the Assad administration responsible for its monstrosities. Anyhow he additionally made clear that plans for U.s. military movement have been conceded, maybe even tabled, pending the effects of Russia's want to place Syria's substance weapons under universal control — a recommendation that Damascus has speedily acknowledged.

That must be an easing for the White House, which has used the greater part of the previous week considering how to stroll back its speedily explained duty to reformatory military activity against the Assad administration for its utilization of substance weapons. Putin's proposal adequately permits the organization to dodge a profoundly disliked military choice, while looking after the thought that the utilization of power is still on the table at some fate time if Syria steps out of line
Yet as generally Faustian deals, Obama is at risk to soon discover that it accompanies a cost.

To start with, under the Russian proposal, the dependability of the Assad administration is guaranteed. That is a major triumph for Moscow, which has indefatigablely endeavored to keep the Syrian tyrant in office in spite of broadening restriction to his standard both at home and abroad. It additionally saves indispensable Russian engages, since Assad's Syria is a major customer state, and in addition the home of Russia's Mediterranean flotilla (which has been housed in the Syrian port city of Tartus since the 1970s).

Second, the Russian plan implies that the Syrian civil war is sure to deteriorate. Syria's renegades, seeing the Assad administration obliged as far as weaponry and hampered by worldwide oversight, will undoubtedly press their preference. The consequence will be more and more extensive carnage, and a helpful emergency even graver than the particular case that exists presently.
All too soon, then, the president is liable to uncover that the hard decisions he has been musing over on Syria haven't been determined, they've just been conceded. Also, conceivably, they have gotten much, much harder the whole time.