Obama Wants To Deliver a Decent Ending to His Role in Syria

178

December 7, 2016

Published in Politcom
(Russia) on 29 November 2016
by Fyodor Lukyanov (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Jeffrey Fredrich. Edited by Christina Virkus.

It is doubtful that there will be an agreement between Russia and the United States on Syria before Trump takes office because Obama is, well, a “lame duck.” He’s not just leaving office, but he’s leaving office while handing the steering wheel over to someone who will turn it in the other direction. If Obama has thus far been unable to reach an agreement with Russia on Syria (even though great efforts have been made, albeit unsuccessfully), it’s unclear why Russia would cut any kind of a deal with him now. To me, such a thing does not seem plausible.

I think that on the American side, the initiatives to make a deal before Trump’s inauguration are understandable. Obama has wanted to reach an agreement since last winter. The most recent attempts occurred this past summer through early autumn. They were very serious attempts. Obama wanted and perhaps still wants to deliver a more or less decent ending to his role in Syria rather than leave office with the situation in a complete mess. But it is unclear why Russia would cut any kind of a deal with an outgoing president.

Заключение соглашения по Сирии между Россией и США до прихода Трампа – сомнительно, потому что Обама ну совсем «хромая утка». Он не просто уходит, но уходит, оставляя «штурвал» тому, кто повернет его в другую сторону. Если Обаме не удалось договориться с Россией по Сирии раньше (хотя были предприняты большие усилия, которые впоследствии с треском провалились), то непонятно, зачем сейчас России заключать с ним какую-то сделку? Так что такие предположения кажутся мне сейчас не вполне достоверными.

Думаю, что с американской стороны инициативы заключить сделку до инаугурации Трампа допустимы. Обама хотел достичь такой договоренности, начиная с прошлой зимы. Последние попытки были летом – в начале осени. Они были очень серьезные. Обама хотел и, может быть, хочет до сих пор поставить в своей сирийской истории более или менее приличную точку, а не уходить на ситуации полного разброда. Но зачем это России, заключать какие-либо сделки с уходящим президентом, не очень понятно.

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