Kerry sees new Syria talks next week; does not rule out Iran role

STRATEGY UPENDED

Russia’s decision to enter the conflict with air strikes has upended the strategy of the United States and its regional and European allies.

That's great since the US strategy has so far, been a complete failier. ISIS and their supporters should be the only ones upset by this action.

Kerry sees new Syria talks next week; does not rule out Iran role

He can't deny Iran. He made sue of that in Switzerland when the deal was going through. With strong russian influence, Iran will be able to squirm around anywhere they want now in the ME.

Iran, which has furnished advisers to aid Assad’s forces on the ground and encouraged its Lebanese Shi’ite Hezbollah allies to fight on behalf of Damascus

You see. The administration can do nothing now, the top 3 clowns (obama, carter, kerry) made certain of that.

Jordan is a key. The odd man out on a political settlement is Saudi Arabia, because it is the most dedicated to Sunnis triumphing over Shia and thus far cannot countenance Alawites having a role in Syria's future, let alone the present Alawite-dominated regime. Jordan shares the dislike of Assad, but is more pragmatic. Those who want peace do well to contact the Jordanians. Note Putin and Kerry already have been in touch with King Abdullah on this, and Kerry is going to Amman to discuss this and the Israel-Palestinian debacle.To make peace you often have to make more war, so the calculus of every side on the ground changes to thinking they have more to gain from ending the war and more to lose if it continues. True, it often does not work out that way (note Netanyahu's hitting more Palestinians has not made them more amenable to occupation), and sometimes the more war option ends up a façade to cover withdrawing in defeat (as in Nixon's bombing North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia)

Syrians has no rights to participiate the peace talks of their own country?? Mr Obama can you return your Noble peace prize or toss it into the sea, you didnt deserve this. Oh yes, you depise it from the begining.

Russia won the war already bush?

I don't think so. I wonder how long the Russian dictator can keep this up before the economy collapses...

Russia economy still in trouble though:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-10/russian-economy-shrinks-4-6-as-oil-slump-risks-deeper-recession

Russia’s economy shrank the most since 2009 after a currency crisis jolted consumer demand, while a selloff in oil threatens to drag the country into a deeper recession.

Gross domestic product contracted 4.6 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier after a 2.2 percent decline in the previous three months, the Federal Statistics Service in Moscow said on Monday, citing preliminary data. That was worse than the median forecast for a 4.5 percent slump in a Bloomberg survey of 18 analysts. The Economy Ministry had projected that output shrank 4.4 percent in the period, calling it “the lowest point” for Russia.

The rout on commodities markets has overshadowed the first signs of stabilization in Russia by hammering the ruble and shaking a country that relies on oil and gas for about half of its budget revenue. The nation is enduring its first recession in six years after last year’s currency crisis and a surge in inflation eroded consumer buying power as sanctions over Ukraine choked access to capital markets.

The ruble has depreciated about 43 percent against the dollar in the past 12 months, the worst performance globally, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The central bank said last month that it may worsen its forecast for a 3.2 percent contraction this year after domestic demand fared worse than anticipated in the first six months. Russia will endure a two-year economic contraction if crude prices remain at $60 through 2016, including a 1.2 percent slump next year, according to the central bank.

A renewed slide in commodity prices may put the central bank in a bind if it destabilizes the ruble and reignites inflation. Consumer prices rose 15.6 percent in July from a year ago, down from a 13-year high of 16.9 percent in March. The central bank forecasts inflation at 10.8 percent by year-end and says its 4 percent target will be reached in 2017.