It is kind of strange how Kerry always seems at his best when the Russians do the work?
5
ANY American who wants to try for peace is a hero to me! Do we really want to blow up the world, and in the meantime continually add to our fantastic arsenal of deadly weapons and bases?
32
Ashton Carter's criticism is without merit. There is nothing
so great about American military tactics that Russians
would immensely benefit from. If it were so, the outcome
in Iraq, Vietnam and Afghanistan would have been
impressive. It is the same kind of lesson Russians
learned when they came to observe presidential
election in 2000. All they learned was about hanging
chad, popular vote is meaningless, lawyers and Supreme
court are important in deciding the occupant of white
house. Conversely, Americans can also learn Russian's
military tactics or our military men too contemptuous of
Russian military?
so great about American military tactics that Russians
would immensely benefit from. If it were so, the outcome
in Iraq, Vietnam and Afghanistan would have been
impressive. It is the same kind of lesson Russians
learned when they came to observe presidential
election in 2000. All they learned was about hanging
chad, popular vote is meaningless, lawyers and Supreme
court are important in deciding the occupant of white
house. Conversely, Americans can also learn Russian's
military tactics or our military men too contemptuous of
Russian military?
Too bad neither of Obama's Sec. State's could get anything done, other than giant giveaways to countries that hate us. Oh, and doubling down on Bush's mistakes by doing the same thing in Libya (but not even trying to stick around and help rebuild) and allowing Syria to fall apart, leading to a huge increase in refugees around the world.
Also too bad that rather than hold them to account for failure, you excuse it with "working hard".
Also too bad that rather than hold them to account for failure, you excuse it with "working hard".
2
Three days before John F. Kennedy assumed office on January 20, 1961, President Eisenhower sent up an ominous signal intend for the American public's contemplation.
Historians regard the nationally televised speech -- heralded as Eisenhower's farewell address -- as standing among the preeminent state papers of the 20th century. He famously warned of the "unwanted influence" of what he labeled "the military-industrial complex."
Deeply concerned about diminished reliance on diplomacy in conducting American foreign policy, Eisenhower singled out the over-zealous resort to military resolutions: " . . . we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose."
Historians regard the nationally televised speech -- heralded as Eisenhower's farewell address -- as standing among the preeminent state papers of the 20th century. He famously warned of the "unwanted influence" of what he labeled "the military-industrial complex."
Deeply concerned about diminished reliance on diplomacy in conducting American foreign policy, Eisenhower singled out the over-zealous resort to military resolutions: " . . . we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose."
10
Why is the US involved in Syria in any way, shape or form?
If the cease-fire is not effective it will be because of the people of Syria.
If the cease-fire is not effective it will be because of the people of Syria.
5
Talk about damning with faint praise: "daring and, at times, quixotic", "too often pursues unwinnable goals and settles for imperfect outcomes", "naïve belief in his ability to win people to his side if he keeps talking long enough", "insists he is not being unrealistic."
In the context of the ongoing conflict between the Pentagon and the State Department over the Syria ceasefire, this reads like a brief for the military brass, who are focused on bigger things: the preparations for war with Russia.
In the context of the ongoing conflict between the Pentagon and the State Department over the Syria ceasefire, this reads like a brief for the military brass, who are focused on bigger things: the preparations for war with Russia.
1
“But there has been something honorable, even heroic, about the persistence, hard work and faith in diplomacy that this decorated Vietnam veteran and former head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has brought to his search for peaceful solutions.”
Yes, indeed! One can only wonder what the world would like if John Kerry had been elected president of the United States in 2004? My guess is the world, especially the Middle East, would be a more peaceful and safer place than it is today. And, the United States would be stronger as a result of Kerry’s “strength through peace” philosophy.
Yes, indeed! One can only wonder what the world would like if John Kerry had been elected president of the United States in 2004? My guess is the world, especially the Middle East, would be a more peaceful and safer place than it is today. And, the United States would be stronger as a result of Kerry’s “strength through peace” philosophy.
10
This guy is like an eager administrative assistant, running around the world in deadly earnest fashion, advancing every tortured, hair-splitting notion currently in vogue among these professorial, irrelevant American government types. Look at Iran. Look at Iraq. Look at Libya. Look at the Russian reset. These people should be kept off airplanes. Too much globabl warming.
5
For 70 years, the cancer that General/President Eisenhower warned us of has metastasized around our planet. Ever increasing war budgets have created a war machine that must be fed by conflicts to continue to exist. If the Department of Offense gets to buy a $3 Billion destroyer, they will find a way to use it.
The diplomatic efforts by any well meaning US SoS will necessarily fail because the cancerous tumors are too numerous and too complicated to eradicate.
Today, it's Syria. Tomorrow? Take your pick. There are plenty of tumors.
The diplomatic efforts by any well meaning US SoS will necessarily fail because the cancerous tumors are too numerous and too complicated to eradicate.
Today, it's Syria. Tomorrow? Take your pick. There are plenty of tumors.
4
Core of the Middle East problem is the ideology differences between Shia and Sunni, which had been there for centuries. Any amount of diplomacy and immigrating/ integrating refugees will not solve the problem. We in the west will never understand. Leave them alone to their own destiny. Democracy and freedom of expression is not in their culture neither do they understand (Iraq is a painful example). Violence and pain if that’s what the citizens will have to go through we can only feel but any intervention we get hurt. Instead of immigration build safe zones around their country, provide resources only if asked. Over time they will become established towns and cities and realize the value of their freedom and take pride in what they have achieved
3
Those who might consider how to broker an end to the military hostilities in Syria and reduce the flow of immigrants to Europe should remember the negotiations following World War I that brought together many world leaders. It's true that twenty-five years later, another world war had started. However, to properly judge the current Syrian initiative, the length of time it remains in force and effect should be considered as well as the decline in immigration flows. Give it a chance
I think Kerry is a brave soul who work relentlessly for world peace without all the hostilities that Americans carry for the so called adversaries. This is a shared world and every country wants to protect its interests and he is doing the best he can with bunch of mad and angry people
14
we have fallen into a trap that the Russians have set for us, or rather we set for ourselves. the failure of Obama to intervene early in the Syrian war has given the Russians the opportunity for great mischief. Putin has used the Syrian conflict to destabilize western Europe by creating a tidal wave of refugees swamping the capacity of the EU to manage them. the brexit vote can be seen as a direct consequence of our failure to put an end to the Assad regime at the out set. its understandable that in the wake of our disastrous intervention in Iraq that Obama would be reluctant to get involved more directly in Syria, but the consequences of his vacillation and ultimate recusal will prove to be an even greater foreign policy blunder than the one that took us into Iraq. At their high point the Syrian rebels were very close to toppling Assad and if we had provided them with minimal anti air cover they would have prevailed. Our failure to do so allowed the Russians to intervene with their own campaign of indiscriminate bombing and the result was a resurgence of the Assad dictatorship which had been on the verge of collapse.
3
Putin's goal is to destabilize Western Europe. In his mind, nothing has changed since Akhromeyev was Chief of Staff of the Soviet Army. Putin's plan is to achieve military superiority and ultimately military victory over the West.
Like Japan in 1941, Putin does not comprehend the consequences of his course of action. America already has no choice but to respond to the Russian violation of the Intermediate Range Missile Treaty and to the build up of Russian forces. Europe unilaterally disarmed and is defenseless without American troops and equipment.
Putin seeks the destruction of the European Community and the NATO alliance. The conflict in Syria is undermining the European Union. A meaningful ceasefire in Syria would prevent the flood of refugees from destabilizing Europe.
An agreement with the United States allows Russia to gain information about the US Air Force and its method of targeting and carrying out airstrikes.
Assad will break the agreement. Russia cannot be blamed for Assad's violations, even if Russia allows Assad to break the peace.
Like Japan in 1941, Putin does not comprehend the consequences of his course of action. America already has no choice but to respond to the Russian violation of the Intermediate Range Missile Treaty and to the build up of Russian forces. Europe unilaterally disarmed and is defenseless without American troops and equipment.
Putin seeks the destruction of the European Community and the NATO alliance. The conflict in Syria is undermining the European Union. A meaningful ceasefire in Syria would prevent the flood of refugees from destabilizing Europe.
An agreement with the United States allows Russia to gain information about the US Air Force and its method of targeting and carrying out airstrikes.
Assad will break the agreement. Russia cannot be blamed for Assad's violations, even if Russia allows Assad to break the peace.
He makes quite a contrast with Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.
6
Have respect for Kerry for his determination to hang in there,still trying to give his proofs at an age when many of his contemporaries. However, although highly decorated, he only served in VN 2 months, a stint marked by controversy, and was awarded a Purple heart for a very minor wound.To take at face value Nk's plaudits, u would think that Lieut.Kerry had smashed 3 feet on a duck in VN, but Swift Board investigators revealed he exaggerated his accomplishments.JK is also source of "conneries" like saying that he voted for war before he voted against it,and if u don't get an education,u might end up fighting in Iraq, insensitive to all those who have fought and paid the price.Moreover,shilling for Obama's nuclear pact with Iran is the price one pays for staying in the game. Colin Powell did the same thing when he defended 43's meshugeh policy in Iraq, which opened up the doors of hell in ME.None the less, "chapeau " to this almost wasp who hangs in there trying to prove his relevance.Another thing in his favor;JK can never be criticicized for dressing down, for wearing farkakte clothing while serving as our sec.of state.Never seen a finer dressed diplomat.
4
Except for an occasional horrific picture on the nightly news Americans don't really care what is going on in Syria as they didn't in Iraq. If the war comes to an end with Assad, opposition forces, ISIS and Kurds all in place how long before the fighting starts up again? Bush etal. made to fatal errors in Iraq. They lied about the cause of the war and they lied about the cost of the war. The U.S. is still in Japan, Germany and Korea. Who will keep the forces that hate each other apart in the years to come?
If the DNC ends up having to pick a successor to Clinton, and won't acknowledge Bernie's obvious popularity - again - , perhaps they will select Kerry. Jimmy Carter was thrilled and relieved when Kerry replaced Clinton, for starters, as Kerry works for peace.
4
There can be no lasting solution in Syria as long as Assad remains in power.
But what do you replace him with? That is the question neither Kerry nor anyone can answer right now.
The one thing we do know is that a power vacuum would rapidly be filled by ISIS.
But what do you replace him with? That is the question neither Kerry nor anyone can answer right now.
The one thing we do know is that a power vacuum would rapidly be filled by ISIS.
1
John Kerry could write his own version of "The Art of the Deal".
The Iran nuclear agreement would be the first chapter. It is the best hope for limiting nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, and anticipates the inevitable day when the radical Iranian leadership is gone and the Iranian people, who are largely younger, well educated, tech savvy and western oriented, chart their own future.
The Iran nuclear agreement would be the first chapter. It is the best hope for limiting nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, and anticipates the inevitable day when the radical Iranian leadership is gone and the Iranian people, who are largely younger, well educated, tech savvy and western oriented, chart their own future.
14
"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"
A 27-year-old John Kerry before subcommittees of the US Senate, April, 1971
"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for America's ill-conceived invasion of Iraq and destabilization of the entire Middle East ? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a Bush-Cheney mistake?"
45 years later, John Kerry continues to show America what thoughtfulness actually looks like in foreign affairs.
John Kerry is as fine a patriot as there ever was in a sea of neo-con-artist chicken hawks strutting their violent feathers.
A 27-year-old John Kerry before subcommittees of the US Senate, April, 1971
"How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for America's ill-conceived invasion of Iraq and destabilization of the entire Middle East ? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a Bush-Cheney mistake?"
45 years later, John Kerry continues to show America what thoughtfulness actually looks like in foreign affairs.
John Kerry is as fine a patriot as there ever was in a sea of neo-con-artist chicken hawks strutting their violent feathers.
36
John Kerry was my senator. I regret that he was not my president.
8
I don't like the idea of giving any information to the Russians about Islamic State targets in Syria. But that's based upon what I've seen and heard about Russia in the last few years. I'm hoping that Kerry knows something I don't. I hope that he doesn't trust Putin but is being pragmatic because everything Putin has been doing suggests a rebuilding of a Russian empire through suppression of his opponents and outright war in the former SSRs.
No action is without its consequences. The pundits would have us believe that there is a perfect answer to every problem. However these same pundits are not in the field and not privy to the same information that Kerry or any other high ranking official has. All of us can be wise with all the information at our fingertips. It's what we do when we truly don't know that makes the difference. Sometimes being humanitarian is better than playing the heavy.
No action is without its consequences. The pundits would have us believe that there is a perfect answer to every problem. However these same pundits are not in the field and not privy to the same information that Kerry or any other high ranking official has. All of us can be wise with all the information at our fingertips. It's what we do when we truly don't know that makes the difference. Sometimes being humanitarian is better than playing the heavy.
12
But then, playing the humanitarian role sets you up as the next sucker for Russians, Chinese, and Iranians who always play the heavy. Too bad Hillary couldn't have just bought them off with her charity cash.
I think Mr. Kerry may have helped Donald Trump. While Mrs. Clinton has been bashing Mr. Trumps positive view of Mr. Putin, Mr. Kerry and the Obama administration has been working behind the scenes with them for a solution to the Syria problem.
I agree with Mr. Kerry's approach but it's hard for me to keep up with the bogey man of the week.
Incidentally while I agree with the Iran deal, I'm not sure as a taxpayer I'm happy about the enormous give away of taxpayer money to Israel the administration just agreed to get the pro-Israel lobby to shut up.
I agree with Mr. Kerry's approach but it's hard for me to keep up with the bogey man of the week.
Incidentally while I agree with the Iran deal, I'm not sure as a taxpayer I'm happy about the enormous give away of taxpayer money to Israel the administration just agreed to get the pro-Israel lobby to shut up.
6
Ask the Syrians what they think of Mr. Kerry and his boss .
4
BBC reporting live from Syria that US backed rebels not honoring ceasefire and aid convoys cannot psafely ass the roads these rebels hold. Our focus is humanitarian relief. All parties cannot continue to look on while Syria starves, including would be Saturday QBs in these comments.
7
Yes, send Aid not Bombs! We are a pathetically violent people!
3
Does not want peace, just wants to travel the world on the American dime, just as Killary did. No accomplishments, just taxpayer paid travel.
3
John Kerry is an activist Secretary of State, the likes of which we haven't seen since Kissinger or Dulles (but very different from either of them in his politics). He has sometimes led a reluctant President Obama, and at other times, with Obama's blessing, carried out daring foreign policy attempts to solve international problems with diplomacy. His agreement with Russia in Syria may or may not, but it is a desperate attempt and for now the only realistic one, to end the bloodshed. If it incredible that the Pentagon can suggest that they could decide not to go along with the deal. The President has OK'd it, Ashton Carter must fall in line (and voice his objections privately), but the generals have no choice: they are subservient to the civilian government. We have a right to distrust Putin, and for sure, Assad, but we have to admit that it is just as difficult for the U.S. to get the rebels we support to stick to this cease-fire and it will be difficult to get them to acquiesce to any kind of long-term treaty, which will probably leave Assad in power at least for the moment. The success of the current deal isn't just in the hands of the Russians, it's an ongoing battle for Kerry make sure that his side also adhers to it. I can't think of anyone off hand who will pursue diplomacy in the world troublespots so indefatigueably as Kerry has and he will be missed unless he contines in the next administration.
15
Kerry crossed a line when he made a deal with the Russians that almost certainly will reveal American military tactics at a time when Putin seems to be on the move in Eastern Europe. Call it a cold war mentality, but the fall of Crimea and the vulnerability of Ukraine and other non-NATO eastern European countries such as Moldava and Belarus make a US-Russian conflict more likely than the current administration wants to acknowledge.
2
America’s Mr. Deficiency
1
A reminder of the days when honorable - and competent - people ran for president. We were fools to pass him by.
22
Yes, John Kerry is the true "energizer bunny" of diplomacy. He's the best Secretary of State in my lifetime since Dean Acheson. He clearly learned in Vietnam that waging peace, while much harder, is much better than waging war. He clearly has earned a Nobel peace prize and I hope he gets it.
25
I am unable to comprehended what a different world we would be living in if John Kerry had won the presidency in 2004. It is beyond understanding. I have never volunteered with such earnest-ness for anyone. No one.
21
Could one ask why Kerry is applauded for cooperating with Russia while Trump is bashed for exactly the same suggestion?
Could it be that it is not your position which matters but which party you belong to?
Kerry is a Democrat and Trump is a "Republican" so they can hold the same positions but one is praised and the other one called Putin's slave.
Could it be that it is not your position which matters but which party you belong to?
Kerry is a Democrat and Trump is a "Republican" so they can hold the same positions but one is praised and the other one called Putin's slave.
10
There is a difference between working with an ugly man for a worthy end and admiring the ugly make for being ugly.
Perhaps because one is a statesman who has worked for years with leaders of the free world, can speak multiple languages, and knows how to handle himself in important meetings that could decide the fate of the world. He understands how to handle someone like Putin; to get what he needs from him without being stabbed in the back.
The other craves attention to such a degree that he fawns over anyone who compliments him, however off-handedly. Do you seriously think that a former KGB agent can't see a sucker from a mile away? Trump has a personality that's *ripe* for manipulation.
The other craves attention to such a degree that he fawns over anyone who compliments him, however off-handedly. Do you seriously think that a former KGB agent can't see a sucker from a mile away? Trump has a personality that's *ripe* for manipulation.
1
Mr. Kerry's job as our diplomat is to work with people we have issues with. That's a far cry from the lavishment of praise coming from Mr. Trump.
1
"He deserves immense credit for trying", says The Times. Yes, indeed he does. May be history will regard him as equal to Fritiof Nansen and Mr. Kerry is a very good nominee to the Nobel Peace Prize, I would say.
12
Secretary of State John Kerry has worked hard for a cease-fire in Syria, but it will be largely up to Russia to make it succeed, as they know he is useless.
2
It's hilarious, watching Trump's motley crew of shills attack people who're actually doing the work for doing the things that Trumpy swears nobody's doing, and then thumps his fat chest about his Big Plans for.
"Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if we worked together with Russia?" That ringing any bells?
"Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if we worked together with Russia?" That ringing any bells?
I can't think of a man who embodies "Noblesse Oblige" more today than John Kerry. What a contrast to modern Republican leadership, men who have forgotten their history and stopped taking care of the People.
26
Yet the Number One demographic group for charitable contributions are the Christian conservatives that you have been begged to sneer at for years.
The GOP is now the workers' last ope.
The GOP is now the workers' last ope.
1
Kerry, would I think have made a fine President.
Nice praise for Mr. Kerry, well-deserved for effort if not result. Quixotic is the operative word, tho. Mr. Kerry's efforts, as respects the Israel-Palestinian problem at least, have been off the mark because far too idealistic and simply not realistic in view of the realities on the ground. Ditto the various cease-fires in Syria that he has embraced. I am not holding my breath this time either, sadly enough.
But we don't give credit for heroic diplomatic attempts; we give credit for angry, no-stakes, critical carping from the sidelines. Witness Bill Clinton's efforts: criticized for falling short of an ideal while his successor got away scot-free for doing nothing. This is what we Americans appear to value: all bluster and no substance.
So, "Mr. Kerry too often pursues unwinnable goals and settles for imperfect outcomes." Tell us, then, what's better. No pursuit at all that tolerates an intolerable killing field? If imperfect outcomes are attained, are these not better than the "perfect," which is unattainable, or no outcome at all, which is unacceptable?
www.endthemadnessnow.org
So, "Mr. Kerry too often pursues unwinnable goals and settles for imperfect outcomes." Tell us, then, what's better. No pursuit at all that tolerates an intolerable killing field? If imperfect outcomes are attained, are these not better than the "perfect," which is unattainable, or no outcome at all, which is unacceptable?
www.endthemadnessnow.org
45
"Perfect is the enemy of the good."
2
There are no good options. We can only hope and try not to make things worse (again, per Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld, unfunded war, "go out and shop").
I'd suggest that people read, if they haven't already, the excellent Fractured Lands: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/11/magazine/isis-middle-east-...
I'd suggest that people read, if they haven't already, the excellent Fractured Lands: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/11/magazine/isis-middle-east-...
9
Yes, Thank You, Secretary Kerry for keeping the conversation going in this world of strong man takeover. Thanks to President Obama also for refusing to engage in more military intervention in the Middle East - it's a no-win situation with too many power hungry male testosterone-fueled egos strutting around.
17
Was there ever a bigger fool than SS John Kerry? 400,000 dead in Syria and millions of refugees is an achievement? The Iran Deal is a pay off to a terrorist supporting state. Now 3 more people have been kidnapped. The change in the weather agreement does nothing but hamper this countries output with China doing nothing. It makes uber Libs feel good. When nothing else is working out, i.e., Kerry cannot pander enough for another enemy country to agree to nothing, he picks on Israel, an easy target. The Left seems to love Russia and Putin until Trump says he is a strong leader than they get all tied up in knots. Not that long ago a Russian Reset button was where it was at. We are back where we started 8 years ago with the Axis of Evil, only worse off because now the ME is in flames.
5
How does it become Russia's responsibility for the success of this cease fire? Russia and Syria immediately accepted the terms, but no such announcement came forth from US backed terrorists. Sec. Kerry's counterpart. Sergei Lavrov has already stated that the US is stalling on air strikes against al-Nusra, whule the Times openly acknowledges opposition to the agreement form Sec. Carter, among others. Sec. Kerry has done an admirable job of securing this cease fire, now it is up to President Obama to enforce it. Enough.
6
The success of the deal depends on Russia and its ability or willingness to make Assad's forces comply, but also very significantly on the willingness of the moderate rebel groups to abandon any common cause with Nusra and like-minded groups. This latter is the real deal breaker. Kerry, Lavrov and UN deserve high marks for persisting and delivering something, which is more than those carping and openly wishing to see the deal collapse have done.
10
A summary remarkable for restraint, simplicity, and understanding. Thank you.
2
I am re-posting my comment as the New York Times Editorial Board continues censoring comments when the opinions are critical of the articles. I find it amazing the Board and so many readers find John Kerry so 'effective'. The U.S. has left a rubble of concrete in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria - what do we have to show for it. There has been no effective diplomacy in this country for the last 8 years. I'm not the one who's stating this fact - the Washington Post reported last year, an Ivory Tower survey provided results from questioning 1,615 international relations scholars from the foreign policy departments of colleges around the U.S. The results -
The most effective Sec. of State - Henry Kissinger
The most INEFFECTIVE Sec. of State - John Kerry
It doesn't take a survey of experts to arrive at the conclusion - look at world! I'm not sure who the Board and the readers are referring to, but it surely isn't John Kerry.
The most effective Sec. of State - Henry Kissinger
The most INEFFECTIVE Sec. of State - John Kerry
It doesn't take a survey of experts to arrive at the conclusion - look at world! I'm not sure who the Board and the readers are referring to, but it surely isn't John Kerry.
3
You are grossly mischaracterizing what the study reported. It did not ask who the most effective Secretary of State was. It was a 2014 survey asking who the most effective Secretary of State has been. Obviously no sitting Secretary of State, with less than two years on the job, and whose legacy had yet to be defined, would be chosen as the single most effective S of S in US history has been. You are mischaracterizing the survey as a ranking, which it most definitely is not.
1
No, in statecraft you should never receive credit for "trying."
You should only ever be granted credit for success. Getting a "deal" is not success if the agreed upon results do not come to fruition - if that's the case, then the deal was not well thought out or crafted.
A senior sec. of state flying around the world trying hard but struggling/failing just means we've put the wrong person in the job, the boss is not willing to fix the problem, and we are burning energy-hours-resources with an ineffective leader.
Ineffective leaders at this level mean more people perish, are subjugated, go hungry, and the US loses power and capability to effect real change subsequently. That is what 4 years of John Kerry has wrought.
The problem with Kerry and with the opinion of this editorial is that sometimes NO deal is better than a bad deal, and that walking away from ANY deal is a better option. But Kerry, and above him Obama, have given up on that premise. They have shown the world that when they commit to make a deal, they will take any deal offered. That is not diplomacy.
You should only ever be granted credit for success. Getting a "deal" is not success if the agreed upon results do not come to fruition - if that's the case, then the deal was not well thought out or crafted.
A senior sec. of state flying around the world trying hard but struggling/failing just means we've put the wrong person in the job, the boss is not willing to fix the problem, and we are burning energy-hours-resources with an ineffective leader.
Ineffective leaders at this level mean more people perish, are subjugated, go hungry, and the US loses power and capability to effect real change subsequently. That is what 4 years of John Kerry has wrought.
The problem with Kerry and with the opinion of this editorial is that sometimes NO deal is better than a bad deal, and that walking away from ANY deal is a better option. But Kerry, and above him Obama, have given up on that premise. They have shown the world that when they commit to make a deal, they will take any deal offered. That is not diplomacy.
3
Sorry Joe, i really appreciate the efforts made by Sec Kerry and he's had a lot more success than you're willing to give him credit for. And the Iranian deal is a fine example of diplomatic leadership reaching a positive outcome. Its time for us as a nation to stop thinking that the rest of the world owes us deference, and anytime we don't get that deference our leaders are 'weak' or 'ineffective'. That's just "I hate the current administration-speak" for my party isn't in control.
2
However, Kerry is corrupt, as demonstrated by directing more that $9 million from the State Department to his daughter’s non-profit organization, Global Health Service Partnership, a Peace Corp program. The money was supposed to be awarded through a competitive bidding process, but Kerry used his position of power to bypass the bidding process.
3
whoa there - that is quite the accusation. I trust you have evidence to back this up . . . ps
4
Few people are really knowledgeable about Iran deal including unfortunately the current Republican Nominee yet peole seem to take sides and express opinions without any understanding of the issues and the consequences.
Everybody is an expert and yet many people cannot name a senator ir a congressman in their district.
We think there are 2 rules in the world. One is what United Sates does and other is what United States tell the rest of the world to do.
World has changed. It is in no mood to take orders from us.
Everybody is an expert and yet many people cannot name a senator ir a congressman in their district.
We think there are 2 rules in the world. One is what United Sates does and other is what United States tell the rest of the world to do.
World has changed. It is in no mood to take orders from us.
5
@Susan Anderson: So you bought the ploy. Please explain why the alternative to the deal was war. Please explain why Iran is now so bold. Please explain how Iran will spend its new cash billions. Please explain how Iran is not a state sponsor of terrorism. Please explain how human rights in Iran is a model for the world. Being condescending does not demonstrate that you know more than anyone else. It really is not the Iranian populace that we need to worry about, it's the leadership.
4
Five "please explains" "Being condescending" "bought the ploy". Assumptions much? if I had a magic wand ... But there is no question whatsoever that Trump and Republicans are making things worse. Obama made friends, Trump will make enemies, while buddying up to the much more clever Putin who flatters him.
There are no good solutions, but going in and destroying the neighborhood doesn't help (see Bush 2). I'm with Churchill and Kerry.
There are no good solutions, but going in and destroying the neighborhood doesn't help (see Bush 2). I'm with Churchill and Kerry.
10
You described my response as ill-informed, wrong, sad. It is easy to "make friends" when you declare red lines which are then ignored, or simply cave to the loudest person on the other side of the table (Iran). No one in their right mind is FOR war (outside of those who profit in the military-industrial complex). Someone else commenting here posted a good list of all the foreign policy "accomplishments" of the last few years: I would suggest that you read it. Diplomacy is a worthy effort, however, if the end result is giving away the farm, or a weakening of your position, then it cannot even be remotely described as successful. Sometimes saying nothing is saying something, and sometimes doing nothing is doing something. The war excuse on Iran was a ploy to force the public to accept this very unpalatable and unwise agreement.
3
Susan, I thought that cooperating with Russia was Trump's idea BEFORE it was picked up by Obama and Kerry.
"Trump will make enemies" is based on anti-Trump propaganda and not on what he has said or done.
Trump HAS faults. Even as a young man controlling his father's real estate empire he was brash and ambitious. He and Koch had mutual abuse fights.
But it was also Trump and Koch who cooperated to make the Wollman rink operational.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wollman_Rink
Please read the paragraph starting with "he rink was closed in 1980 ..."
But you won't see it in the New York Times because Trump did New York city a favor. "Trump doing something good? Not to be believed".
"Trump will make enemies" is based on anti-Trump propaganda and not on what he has said or done.
Trump HAS faults. Even as a young man controlling his father's real estate empire he was brash and ambitious. He and Koch had mutual abuse fights.
But it was also Trump and Koch who cooperated to make the Wollman rink operational.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wollman_Rink
Please read the paragraph starting with "he rink was closed in 1980 ..."
But you won't see it in the New York Times because Trump did New York city a favor. "Trump doing something good? Not to be believed".
3
While I truly hope that Kerry is successful in achieving a long term cease fire in Syria, it is hard not to wonder how much cash and other forms of payment, as well as concessions he had to offer Putin to get to this point. If it is anything like the disastrous Iran deal which has resulted in an even more strained relationship with Iran and a dribbling out of the truth regarding how much we bribed Iran to release our citizens and agree to the deal, then we need to exercise cautious optimism. It is still not clear if Iran is complying with the nuclear weapons development ban or not. You have to agree that it is hard to trust anything that is promised by Iran. The same goes for Putin. While it does appear that Kerry is working relentlessly, that is not a measure of success or competence. We know this from his approach to negotiating with Iran which consisted of "What do you want from us to make this deal happen? Okay, you got it no matter what it costs." This is kind of analogous to Hillary Clinton citing how many miles she flew while SoS as her only accomplishment. Either way, I am rooting for Kerry to be successful in resolving the Syrian mess created by Hillary.
7
"concessions he had to offer Putin "
Reminds of a story about Dennis the Menace who comes home with a new toy.
"Where did you get it?" asks mother.
"From Fred."
"And why did Fred give it to you?"
"I did him a favor."
"What favor?"
"I got off his chest."
How about getting off Russia's chest and removing the sanctions?
Reminds of a story about Dennis the Menace who comes home with a new toy.
"Where did you get it?" asks mother.
"From Fred."
"And why did Fred give it to you?"
"I did him a favor."
"What favor?"
"I got off his chest."
How about getting off Russia's chest and removing the sanctions?
2
How about Russia getting out of Ukraine so that we can remove the sanctions? Diplomacy is the art of trading something less desirable to obtain something more desirable to you! When the Russians want to end the sanctions, they will get off Ukraine's chest!
3
We all applaud Kerry's hard work and duty to his country. However, I can't help but think that hard work and commitment to one's country may sometimes not be enough. Many very intelligent, experienced politicians/advisors/think tank individuals (admittedly with a conservative viewpoint) would offer that BHO and JK haven't't negotiated very good deals for America, so much as "shoehorned" and capitulated to the more forceful negotiations of others. Many believe that the Iran nuclear deal appears to have been played to both the short and long term benefit of the Ayatollahs - so to the "understandings" with the Russians on the Ukraine, and now Syria, (redline, chemical weapons, Assad staying in power, etc.) all which appear to have been pretty much directed by the force of Putin. So, we salute Kerry's tenacity in the face of very difficult world situations, but with deep and troubling reservations.
4
The chances of success for Kerry's deal with Russia may be small. But the situation there is so horrific, that it would be irresponsible not to at least try. We have little to lose and the Syrian people much to gain.
4
In 2004, John Kerry stated that President Bush was "stunningly ineffective" at foreign policy. He was really referring to his own tenure as Secretary of State.
Our foreign affairs policy has been a disaster; John Kerry's been as ineffective a Secretary of State as I've ever seen. The U.S. is viewed as aggressive and militaristic, yet is unable to broker peace anywhere in the world.
Mr. Kerry thinks he can negotiate with Russia - Putin has the advantage and always will knowing that Kerry and the President don't mean what they say, and don't say what they mean. He was a failure in Congress, and his streak continues.
But I'm not the expert on this issue - RESULTS OF 2014 IVORY TOWER SURVEY OF PROFESSORS AT THE TOP 25 FOREIGN POLICY SCHOOLS: One question was asked - "Who was the most effective and ineffective Secretary of States?"
The answer - Henry Kissinger was the most effective
John Kerry was the most ineffective
Our foreign affairs policy has been a disaster; John Kerry's been as ineffective a Secretary of State as I've ever seen. The U.S. is viewed as aggressive and militaristic, yet is unable to broker peace anywhere in the world.
Mr. Kerry thinks he can negotiate with Russia - Putin has the advantage and always will knowing that Kerry and the President don't mean what they say, and don't say what they mean. He was a failure in Congress, and his streak continues.
But I'm not the expert on this issue - RESULTS OF 2014 IVORY TOWER SURVEY OF PROFESSORS AT THE TOP 25 FOREIGN POLICY SCHOOLS: One question was asked - "Who was the most effective and ineffective Secretary of States?"
The answer - Henry Kissinger was the most effective
John Kerry was the most ineffective
Secretary Kerry is attempting to do the hardest thing there is to do: trying to convince other people to act. It's one thing to do something oneself and an infinitely more difficult thing to talk someone else into acting. Congratulations to Kerry for his persistence in attempting to improve society.
5
All countries endeavor to maximize their power. For a long time petroleum was the key. It still is, witness the middle east. Controlling the supply via wells and pipelines spawned war in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya; and coups in Africa and Brazil.
The elites who own global corporations are engaged in an ongoing contest with the lower classes who want their piece of the pie. Democracy sounds good, but it must not gain control of the wealth of any country and start sharing it with the masses. And so it goes. Wars, coups, all managed by the elite in their own interests; as opposed to that of the common people in each country. In reality they seek to suppress socialism in any form.
John Kerry knows all this. He has lived it. And he attempts to cajole the corporations that would destroy the environment and make war. A man of the upper class, he seeks to put an end to the oppression of the masses.
The elites who own global corporations are engaged in an ongoing contest with the lower classes who want their piece of the pie. Democracy sounds good, but it must not gain control of the wealth of any country and start sharing it with the masses. And so it goes. Wars, coups, all managed by the elite in their own interests; as opposed to that of the common people in each country. In reality they seek to suppress socialism in any form.
John Kerry knows all this. He has lived it. And he attempts to cajole the corporations that would destroy the environment and make war. A man of the upper class, he seeks to put an end to the oppression of the masses.
2
The NYT editorial is preparing the public for a breakdown of the ceasefire so that the fault can be blamed on Russia. How is Russia (i.e. Putin) duplicitous and adversarial the NYT does not say? The Russians offered a peace deal in 2012, that the U.S. rejected.
The NYT has the facts upside down. The deceptive actor in Syria has been the US. The Obama-Kerry PR is that the US says it is pursuing two mutually exclusive goals: defeating ISIS...AQ...Nusra..Daesh by giving them hundreds of tons of weapons, so that they can depose Assad.
As for Assad used "chemical weapons against civilians" in 2013 it is an oft repeated falsehood that the NYT now reports as fact. And the peaceful solution was not "brokering by Kerry", instead it was Putin's surprise and unwelcome solution to remove all of Assad's chemical weapons.
Kerry and neocons were anxious to bomb first and ask question...never.
As the NYT says, Kerry has been working hard for peace by trying to "persuade Mr. Obama to apply more military pressure in Syria". In other words, according to the NYT, "war is peace"; where have we heard that kind of upside down logic before?
So if I have interpreted this editorial correctly, then once the Obama people have regrouped and resupplied the ISIS...al Qaeda...al Nusra...Daesh...well-vetted moderate-Islamic rebels, and they have regrouped after the pounding by the Assad forces backed by the Russians, then we can expect this US bloody regime change project to continue.
The NYT has the facts upside down. The deceptive actor in Syria has been the US. The Obama-Kerry PR is that the US says it is pursuing two mutually exclusive goals: defeating ISIS...AQ...Nusra..Daesh by giving them hundreds of tons of weapons, so that they can depose Assad.
As for Assad used "chemical weapons against civilians" in 2013 it is an oft repeated falsehood that the NYT now reports as fact. And the peaceful solution was not "brokering by Kerry", instead it was Putin's surprise and unwelcome solution to remove all of Assad's chemical weapons.
Kerry and neocons were anxious to bomb first and ask question...never.
As the NYT says, Kerry has been working hard for peace by trying to "persuade Mr. Obama to apply more military pressure in Syria". In other words, according to the NYT, "war is peace"; where have we heard that kind of upside down logic before?
So if I have interpreted this editorial correctly, then once the Obama people have regrouped and resupplied the ISIS...al Qaeda...al Nusra...Daesh...well-vetted moderate-Islamic rebels, and they have regrouped after the pounding by the Assad forces backed by the Russians, then we can expect this US bloody regime change project to continue.
4
Secretary of State John Kerry woulda, coulda, shoulda been our great President in 2004, instead of being "swiftboated" by President George W. Bush's cabal of bad seeds in his administration. Also, his choice of a running-mate - John Edwards - was as awful an error as the RNC's nomination of Donald Trump for the Presidency this year. The moving finger having writ, moves on. Kudos and laurels to John Kerry who has represented the United States to the best of his great ability during President Obama's last term. Kerry has contributed mightily to the Democratic ethos. Like the late Richard Holbrooke, who believed that war ended at the negotiating table, John Kerry deserves honors, for having been (and still being) our Secretary of State.
8
FOOL THAT HE IS. There is no such thing as SYRIA, only a Frankenstein created by SYKES-PICOT. The people at ISIS know this, and the people that started this mess, THE ISRAELIS know this. Israel , Sudenten style will annex the Golan Heights, which they are now developing like they have the West Bank(all with the help of USA $$$). Their agents in the media and Congress have certainly done their job for our "ally". Meanwhile Russia will make headlines in Syria, which is all Putin is looking for. Like Brezhnev in the 70s, any capital spent here is a waste,but lots of great headlines.
Israel captured the Golan Heights in a defensive "war of necessity." Since then, the Syrian Assad regime has declined to negotiate peace in exchange for its return. Some 30 years ago, Egypt obtained return of the Sinai, captured by Israel in the same war, as a result of a negotiated peace agreement.
In 2011, Syria was engaged in a U.S. mediated effort to obtain return of Golan in exchange for peace with Israel. But Basher Assad, in a ham-fisted response to non-violent pro-democracy demonstrations, arrested, tortured and killed protesters, including children, setting of the nation's civil war. In the interim, the mediation effort failed as Assad was otherwise occupied trying to preserve his regime. Syria will have to make peace within itself, before it can resume efforts to make peace with Israel.
In 2011, Syria was engaged in a U.S. mediated effort to obtain return of Golan in exchange for peace with Israel. But Basher Assad, in a ham-fisted response to non-violent pro-democracy demonstrations, arrested, tortured and killed protesters, including children, setting of the nation's civil war. In the interim, the mediation effort failed as Assad was otherwise occupied trying to preserve his regime. Syria will have to make peace within itself, before it can resume efforts to make peace with Israel.
2
This morning I read the stories of how people are taking advantage of the cease fire in Syria. For a moment, they have something approaching normalcy. Any measure of peace is so welcome, and Mr. Kerry is to thank. He is underappreciated, and I'm glad to see this article.
5
I remember seeing Kerry with his multitudinous girlfriends sitting on the sofa near the door at Yvonne's, the member's only night club at the former restaurant Locke Ober, in the late 1980s. He also hung out at the West Street Grill on more than one occasion into the early 90s. Later there was his $500,000 power boat moored or docked in Rhode Island to avoid the Massachusetts sales tax on boat purchases. The Department of Revenue caught up with him on that one and he paid the tax.
All in all, he should have stayed a playboy wanna-be. He was better at affairs than international affairs.
All in all, he should have stayed a playboy wanna-be. He was better at affairs than international affairs.
2
I accept that an editorial is an opinion about the news. But even journalistic opinions should have more respect for facts. The Syrian war is more than merely "complicated." While Russia has become a player in the region, there would have been no lasting civil war if the Gulf States, led by the Saudi's had not armed and financed the various Salafist groups that make up the rebellion. Their aim is to overthrow an Aliwaite government that has been mostly secular and replace it with a Sunni dominated regime.
The 'moderates' armed by the US have always been a fiction, one written about extensively by foreign journalists. Syria's use of chemical weapons has been debunked by independent British labs that verified that the gas used was not from the Syrian arsenal. While Turkey is vying with the Saudi's to be the dominant Sunni state in the region there's barely a mention of their ongoing support for Al Nusra and similar groups.
While you reference Kerry's failure to secure an agreement between the Palestinians and Israeli's that's be because the US sees a two state solution as in our interests and Netanyahu has publicly stated that it will never happen on his watch?
The Times phobia about Russia has shaded its view of these issues to the point of becoming an ideological line, not a coherent analysis. Why this has occurred is another story. But clearly it has and as a result, one must consult foreign sources to gain a better perspective on the polices of our own government.
The 'moderates' armed by the US have always been a fiction, one written about extensively by foreign journalists. Syria's use of chemical weapons has been debunked by independent British labs that verified that the gas used was not from the Syrian arsenal. While Turkey is vying with the Saudi's to be the dominant Sunni state in the region there's barely a mention of their ongoing support for Al Nusra and similar groups.
While you reference Kerry's failure to secure an agreement between the Palestinians and Israeli's that's be because the US sees a two state solution as in our interests and Netanyahu has publicly stated that it will never happen on his watch?
The Times phobia about Russia has shaded its view of these issues to the point of becoming an ideological line, not a coherent analysis. Why this has occurred is another story. But clearly it has and as a result, one must consult foreign sources to gain a better perspective on the polices of our own government.
5
Is a Trump surrogate selecting the NYT picks?
3
Interesting...
Is Kerry (and a hard-core team of staffers) positioning for a 2020 run...
If so, we'd like to - really - know how he's doing...
Can someone please start leaking his emails, ASAP...
Especially the ones marked with our government's newest Internet-era classifications:
"Double Top Secret - Protected by (free) LeakBlocker Software"
"Triple Top Secret - Protected by Bleach(bit) Wipe Software"
"Closed Eyes Only"
Is Kerry (and a hard-core team of staffers) positioning for a 2020 run...
If so, we'd like to - really - know how he's doing...
Can someone please start leaking his emails, ASAP...
Especially the ones marked with our government's newest Internet-era classifications:
"Double Top Secret - Protected by (free) LeakBlocker Software"
"Triple Top Secret - Protected by Bleach(bit) Wipe Software"
"Closed Eyes Only"
1
Just think where we might be if Kerry has been elected President instead of that cast of neo-cons. We still do not fully grasp what eight years of George Bush did to our country. And now we are on the verge of electing a candidate that lacks Bush intellect and temperament.
5
The Constitution of the US clearly states that the President is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. When Ashton Carter counters the President, and does it publicly, that is treason and he should be fired immediately.
2
proud of Kerry. the man is doing his job and not commenting publicly on the candidates. Vs the pres. who is frightened for his legacy, and really, has no idea what his job entails.
3
When will our leaders realize that foreign leaders and nations will work in their perceived best interests, not those of the United States Government?
The American Government's perceived best interest would be met if we defeat ISIS, remove the Assad regime, establish Western friendly, stable Governments in Syria and Iraq that would help the western oil cartel drain their only national resource on terms dictated by the Western oil cartels.
This has been the goal since Bush/Cheney, the U S Government and the U S Media lied the American people into invading Iraq some 15 years ago.
America is not fighting terrorism, liberating the people of the middle east and bringing them the gifts of Western capitalistic democracy. We are there to steal the oil.
It hasn't worked very well because people don't like having things stolen from them.
Mr. Kerry may do anything he likes but the people of the Middle East don't want to help the U S steal their oil for the benefit of the 1% of the West.
For 15 years the Editors of the Times have been writing that good things are about to happen in our oil wars, but those good times never come, and they never come for the same simple reason: People don't like having things stolen from them.
The care and feeding of the 1% are high priorities for the Editors of the Times and the U S Government but the rest of the world just doesn't see things that way.
The American Government's perceived best interest would be met if we defeat ISIS, remove the Assad regime, establish Western friendly, stable Governments in Syria and Iraq that would help the western oil cartel drain their only national resource on terms dictated by the Western oil cartels.
This has been the goal since Bush/Cheney, the U S Government and the U S Media lied the American people into invading Iraq some 15 years ago.
America is not fighting terrorism, liberating the people of the middle east and bringing them the gifts of Western capitalistic democracy. We are there to steal the oil.
It hasn't worked very well because people don't like having things stolen from them.
Mr. Kerry may do anything he likes but the people of the Middle East don't want to help the U S steal their oil for the benefit of the 1% of the West.
For 15 years the Editors of the Times have been writing that good things are about to happen in our oil wars, but those good times never come, and they never come for the same simple reason: People don't like having things stolen from them.
The care and feeding of the 1% are high priorities for the Editors of the Times and the U S Government but the rest of the world just doesn't see things that way.
3
"Jaw jaw is better than war war" (Winston Churchill)
It is disgusting that so many armchair critics feel free to come at both Kerry and Clinton from a position of ignorance. They appear not to have bothered to inform themselves about the scale and world-breaking consequences of the mess that is Syria, dominated by a selfish dictator who thinks nothing of disabling or murdering millions of his own citizens, reducing his cities to rubble, targeting health care to create despair, and his buddy system with Russia that makes it impossible for people to fight back.
Just for a second, put yourself in the shoes of a person with no home, no food, no power, no sewage and ask who put them there.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/defence-and-security-blog/2015/sep/10/j...
"There is little more dangerous than the head of a government talking tough and achieving nothing ."
Be careful what you wish for. This is the world that Trump will make so much worse, and it may come closer to your doorstep if you choose bluster over wisdom and experience.
Kerry and Clinton dealt with the world as it is, and both, with strong liberal/progressive roots and compassion for those less fortunate, accepted that they had to work with it as it is, not as they'd like it to be.
Please let us not make America small and mean, and increase its violence. We don't need to be Jesus, Gandhi, Mandela, or Martin Luther King to avoid making things worse with hatred and oversimplification.
It is disgusting that so many armchair critics feel free to come at both Kerry and Clinton from a position of ignorance. They appear not to have bothered to inform themselves about the scale and world-breaking consequences of the mess that is Syria, dominated by a selfish dictator who thinks nothing of disabling or murdering millions of his own citizens, reducing his cities to rubble, targeting health care to create despair, and his buddy system with Russia that makes it impossible for people to fight back.
Just for a second, put yourself in the shoes of a person with no home, no food, no power, no sewage and ask who put them there.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/defence-and-security-blog/2015/sep/10/j...
"There is little more dangerous than the head of a government talking tough and achieving nothing ."
Be careful what you wish for. This is the world that Trump will make so much worse, and it may come closer to your doorstep if you choose bluster over wisdom and experience.
Kerry and Clinton dealt with the world as it is, and both, with strong liberal/progressive roots and compassion for those less fortunate, accepted that they had to work with it as it is, not as they'd like it to be.
Please let us not make America small and mean, and increase its violence. We don't need to be Jesus, Gandhi, Mandela, or Martin Luther King to avoid making things worse with hatred and oversimplification.
16
Fantasies aside, the choice in Syria is, as it always has been, the recognozed government or ISIS/al-Nusra in Damascus.
2
Promoting regime change is not dealing with the world 'as it is', it is attempting to re-engineer it to our liking. Worse, it's criminal. Clinton channeled millions of dollars into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliated groups, with the expressed goal of ousting the legitimate Syrian government. Don't you wonder who stood to gain from this power play? If anyone is ignorant about what has happened and why, it's because the media keeps promoting White House talking points. Trump is no angel, but as far as I know, he's not killed anybody or destroyed entire countries with our tax dollars.
3
It is possible to not agree with a candidate's position and not "hate" the candidate. This personalization of candidates into a "good and bad" camp is not particularly helpful. Both candidates have assets and liabilities that will help determine their presidency if elected. A serious discussion of their positions on specific isdues facing the country and how each would deal eith them (issues papers) by the candidates themselves, with information on similaritirs and differences would be helpful. And perhaps help to deflect the conversation away from personalities to policies.
1
The Iran deal is in no way a positive for any nation other than Iran. The claim that war was the only other option was a ploy only yo garner support. Why the pressure to do that deal? What are the terms of all the side deals? So much for the "most transparent" administration.
8
So ill informed and so wrong. Sad.
5
Since the clamor from the right has become so strong that false balance has taken over the NYT picks (50:50 as of now), here's a brief summary of the Iranian deal (the NYT one is similar). I chose the Wall Street Journal, simple and clear, for the conservatives who will otherwise assume they know better and ignore the facts:
http://www.wsj.com/video/the-iran-nuclear-deal-explained/BCDEC52C-E9F0-4...
Please note that the sanctions relief creates a situation in which the Iranian population will be less hostile to the rest of the world. They themselves want a more open society.
We cannot survive if we set the rest of the world against us. We could take them down with us, but what benefit would that be?
As for Netanyahu's complaints, remember his thumb in the eye collaboration with Congress last year. I guess Republicans would rather have Netanyahu be our president?
http://www.wsj.com/video/the-iran-nuclear-deal-explained/BCDEC52C-E9F0-4...
Please note that the sanctions relief creates a situation in which the Iranian population will be less hostile to the rest of the world. They themselves want a more open society.
We cannot survive if we set the rest of the world against us. We could take them down with us, but what benefit would that be?
As for Netanyahu's complaints, remember his thumb in the eye collaboration with Congress last year. I guess Republicans would rather have Netanyahu be our president?
9
So you bought the ploy. Please explain why the alternative to the deal was war. Please explain why Iran is now so bold. Please explain how Iran will spend its new cash billions. Please explain how Iran is not a state sponsor of terrorism. Please explain how human rights in Iran is a model for the world. Being condescending does not demonstrate that you know more than anyone else.
1
Pentagon be damned. Mr. Kerry's work should be honored at the highest level. Only relationship-based solutions will provide lasting peace. Not war. And certainly not more military.
33
Not more military, yet that is exactly what Iran is doing with the money we sent them.
1
Mr. Kerry's greatest achievement is, that he's able to bring others to the negotiating table, and even more importantly, he himself is also willing to go, when called.
This of course is a tacit acknowledgment of the fact, that we're living in a multi-polar world, where interests sometimes coincide, other times collide.
Alliances can be formed short term for a specific purpose, like now in Syria, or previously on the Iran deal.
Too bad, that this rattles the establishment (both political and military), so used to the US alone calling all the shots.
This of course is a tacit acknowledgment of the fact, that we're living in a multi-polar world, where interests sometimes coincide, other times collide.
Alliances can be formed short term for a specific purpose, like now in Syria, or previously on the Iran deal.
Too bad, that this rattles the establishment (both political and military), so used to the US alone calling all the shots.
15
My dream is that Hillary will choose Kerry as her Secretary of State. That would be a powerhouse combo of experience. It would send a very strong statement to a very unstable world.
6
Mr. Kerry may be learning to his dismay what many Americans have failed or refuse to understand. US attempts to rule the Middle East and the Far East are doomed to failure. At best our meddling only can make bad matters worse. American lives and treasure are wasted; others suffer because of our melding; nothing of value can be gained. When will we learn?
8
Attempting to bring factions to the negotiating table is not "meddling," Donald - that it doesn't always succeed, in an area riven by thousands of years of internecine tribal and sectarian hatred and warring does not mean we shouldn't try. Bringing factions to the table is also not "ruling" - it is a responsible initiative in diplomacy. That the pace doesn't suit our "instant gratification" society does not mean we shouldn't make the diplomatic effort.
3
I have tremendous respect for John Kerry and it saddens me that it didn't take long for the article to start talking about “critics" and "refusals to comply," and most discouraging, ". . . may end in failure."
Would someone describe for me a more difficult job? Given the Congressional reception afforded President Obama, one could argue that his job was the crown prince of futility, but Secretary of State stands right beside it.
Trying to reason with a world that appears to be bent on self-destructing is a challenge few people can capably undertake. If nothing else, it certainly qualifies as a training ground for the Presidency which is why Clinton is far and away the best choice for President.
Would someone describe for me a more difficult job? Given the Congressional reception afforded President Obama, one could argue that his job was the crown prince of futility, but Secretary of State stands right beside it.
Trying to reason with a world that appears to be bent on self-destructing is a challenge few people can capably undertake. If nothing else, it certainly qualifies as a training ground for the Presidency which is why Clinton is far and away the best choice for President.
10
How noble! Maybe Mr. Kerry's efforts could have been more helpful to Syria if he worked to reverse the damage caused by his own government's push for regime change? The funding and aiding of the rebels by the US and its proxies, who were well know to be imported, murderous jihadis, not even Syrian, and hardly 'moderate' is what started this problem and destroyed much of Syria. Now he expects Russia to solve the problem? The Assad government, no matter what you might say, had every right to defend its country from thousands of foreign funded terrorists. Look, if any foreign power encouraged and funded foreign mercenaries to enter the US illegally with the goal of overthrowing our government because of how we treat some of our own citizens, say minorities, I can guarantee you, the response would be swift. It would not be tolerated, yet, when we're the perpetrator and instigator, it's OK? Syria did not deserve this, under any circumstance. It's criminal. Better for the US and its allies to get out, and take their money with them.
5
hmmm ... there was a guy named Bush in 2004. There is a guy named Morano, who worked first for Limbaugh, then Swiftboat, then Inhofe, and now directs a great deal of energy towards obfuscating the obvious with climate change.
Assad is only interested in Assad and his comforts, and has no scruples about murdering millions of his own citizens in order to do so.
Assad is only interested in Assad and his comforts, and has no scruples about murdering millions of his own citizens in order to do so.
7
Well, if you think those the US has been supporting, religious nutcases, are going to allow what Assad has allowed and encouraged....rights for women, education, universities, medical schools, etc., you're drinking some powerful Kool-Aid. Assad has had a secular government from the start, and a multicultural, multiethnic, religiously tolerant society. Hard to imagine the jihadists can ever come close. Just look at Saudi Arabia...their other patron, as their model society. The least tolerant place on earth, yet you demonize Assad? Wake up and smell the coffee.
2
Like an old fashion diplomat, Kerry is subdued, steady and also speaks fluently french and shows an interest in other cultures. All lethal attributes with an American electorate.
12
clearly i meant that "..couldN'T have happened for the stubboness of mr. Netanyahu.." in last paragraph of my post.
“Success depends on the cooperation of Russia, a duplicitous player in Syria’s tragic civil war and the main defender of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad.”
So far Russia has presented and delivered the clearest agenda in the Syrian conflict. Their objective, maintain a stable State on their Southern flank and, to achieve that, support President Assad – the legitimate leader of the country in the eyes of most of the world and possible according to the wish of the majority of Syrians.
The USA on the other hand [or maybe we should say agencies of the USA Administration] started a Regime Change war in Syria and has been pursuing it for the past six or so years.
Given yesterday’s reports on the internal jockeying for power within the USA administration and “On Tuesday, Pentagon officials refused to say whether they would comply with their part of the deal”, we can ask does the USA have a Commander in Chief?
Perhaps the USA that should be described as a duplicitous player in Syria’s tragic [civil] war.
So far Russia has presented and delivered the clearest agenda in the Syrian conflict. Their objective, maintain a stable State on their Southern flank and, to achieve that, support President Assad – the legitimate leader of the country in the eyes of most of the world and possible according to the wish of the majority of Syrians.
The USA on the other hand [or maybe we should say agencies of the USA Administration] started a Regime Change war in Syria and has been pursuing it for the past six or so years.
Given yesterday’s reports on the internal jockeying for power within the USA administration and “On Tuesday, Pentagon officials refused to say whether they would comply with their part of the deal”, we can ask does the USA have a Commander in Chief?
Perhaps the USA that should be described as a duplicitous player in Syria’s tragic [civil] war.
6
I guess murdering your own citizens is the emblem of that legitimacy.
2
Correct. Duplicitous comes from the Latin word "duo" meaning "two". A duplicitous person says one thing and does another.
The Russians said they were entering Syria to kill bad guys, invited by the way, unlike some. They did exactly that so where's the duplicity? One arm of the US government sent planes over Syria to bomb the bad guys. At the same time another arm of the US government sent armaments to those same bad guys. As if that were not enough all arms of the US government tell us that they are arming the moderate rebels but by some mysterious and unknown process, possibly osmosis, those same arms seem to find their way into the hands of the bad guys.
Now THAT'S duplicitous.
The Russians said they were entering Syria to kill bad guys, invited by the way, unlike some. They did exactly that so where's the duplicity? One arm of the US government sent planes over Syria to bomb the bad guys. At the same time another arm of the US government sent armaments to those same bad guys. As if that were not enough all arms of the US government tell us that they are arming the moderate rebels but by some mysterious and unknown process, possibly osmosis, those same arms seem to find their way into the hands of the bad guys.
Now THAT'S duplicitous.
Another article portraying why President Obama is on his so agenda. His legacy is poor to say the least.
4
I listened to Kerry on PBS.
He is begging Putin to cut a deal that allows us to continue to support the rebels in their attempt to topple Assad.
We are continuing to insist that we have the right to bring regime change.
We will never learn.
He is begging Putin to cut a deal that allows us to continue to support the rebels in their attempt to topple Assad.
We are continuing to insist that we have the right to bring regime change.
We will never learn.
6
NPR, sorry. Yesterday.
You are exactly right. Please respond to the brilliant know-it-all Susan Anderson, probably a neighbor of the Serial Heiress Marrying Man on Beacon Hill.
1
Mr. Kerry can be called "mr. Diplomacy" indeed.
He demonstrated what tenacity and grit is behind his job, by following not the overt easy tough way of imposing sanctions to a nation ( how hard can it be?) but the difficult and long way of negotiating over years the nuclear deal with Iran, yearning a halt to its alarming militarizing and hampering it on the long term, in exchange for economic relief.
in fact he was so successful that you can say North Korea followed suit on the same root, accelerating its run on nuclear tests and militaristic weaponizing to gain some concession on the sanctions it suffers as Iran did.
Mr. Kerry's job was not done with that. He persuaded Moscow to a humanitarian truce in Syria not once but twice ( adding last February's one ) and gave Afghanistan a medium- term solution after the very fraudolent elections allowing the co-existence of the top two candidate, mr. Ghani as president and mr. Abdullah as chief executive.
That's how tough is negotiations were.
I wonder if mr. Trump's political hook as top negotiator was none than admiration for the role mr. Kerry embodied, and also a hint to the only miss in his accomplishments, an Israel- Palestinian peace accord. That probably could have happened for the stubborness of mr. Netanyahu, until recently with France's foreign minister, in refusing any ingerence into Israel affairs, and the political sparks generated by Iran's nuclear deal have not helped.
I wish Mr. Kerry could pursue this role, anyway
He demonstrated what tenacity and grit is behind his job, by following not the overt easy tough way of imposing sanctions to a nation ( how hard can it be?) but the difficult and long way of negotiating over years the nuclear deal with Iran, yearning a halt to its alarming militarizing and hampering it on the long term, in exchange for economic relief.
in fact he was so successful that you can say North Korea followed suit on the same root, accelerating its run on nuclear tests and militaristic weaponizing to gain some concession on the sanctions it suffers as Iran did.
Mr. Kerry's job was not done with that. He persuaded Moscow to a humanitarian truce in Syria not once but twice ( adding last February's one ) and gave Afghanistan a medium- term solution after the very fraudolent elections allowing the co-existence of the top two candidate, mr. Ghani as president and mr. Abdullah as chief executive.
That's how tough is negotiations were.
I wonder if mr. Trump's political hook as top negotiator was none than admiration for the role mr. Kerry embodied, and also a hint to the only miss in his accomplishments, an Israel- Palestinian peace accord. That probably could have happened for the stubborness of mr. Netanyahu, until recently with France's foreign minister, in refusing any ingerence into Israel affairs, and the political sparks generated by Iran's nuclear deal have not helped.
I wish Mr. Kerry could pursue this role, anyway
1
It seems unfair to sum things up at this time. The catastrophic Iran Agreement, the Paris nonsense and now a humiliating joining with Russia to have them do our job ,,, we hope.
And not a word of acknowledgement that he inherited a massive disaster from Secretary Clinton.
And not a word of acknowledgement that he inherited a massive disaster from Secretary Clinton.
5
What fantasy screenplay are you people reading from? You call these eight years of embarrassingly amateur "foreign policy" fingerpainting diplomacy? Have your medications expired? Our State department, most recently for sale to the highest contributor to the current clown's predecessor, is the laughing stock of the world. Nuclear Islamists. Nuclear Korean Krazies. European disintegration. Enemies on the march, friends in retreat. This is the real world legacy of this incompetent servant of this incompetent administration. No doubt this fishwrap of a daily will nominate the entire crowd for a Nobel prize; if that prize is for use of the award namesake's invention to blow apart 70 years of work, it will be richly deserved.
12
Are you suggesting that the present circumstances could have altogether been prevented unilaterally by a somehow more hawkish foreign policy that exerted American will and influence across all these regions? In the midst of an economic recovery that has been more sluggish than ideal, that would not only have overextended state resources, it would also have built upon the anti-American resentment that had reached a peak at the end of the Bush era. Mr. Kerry has done a remarkable job of being an effective agent of the philosophy of softer, judicious American intervention that President Obama has (wisely) chosen to follow.
4
"Have your medications expired?" Et tu, Annetta?
3
Check the expiration date on your psychotropics, Annie.
What have your or your lot of armchair diplomats done to secure our borders since W began his Crusades that cost us thousands of lives, limbs and minds of actual patriots?
Kerry is an old combat vet trying his best to prevent more loss of souls in a life and death diplomatic game some ditz from Albaquerque couldn't get to first base on.
Please, go ahead and read another paper - maybe one you won't a need dictionary to get through most paragraphs.
What have your or your lot of armchair diplomats done to secure our borders since W began his Crusades that cost us thousands of lives, limbs and minds of actual patriots?
Kerry is an old combat vet trying his best to prevent more loss of souls in a life and death diplomatic game some ditz from Albaquerque couldn't get to first base on.
Please, go ahead and read another paper - maybe one you won't a need dictionary to get through most paragraphs.
5
Kerry definitely is a hard trying person who traveled around the world. But if the Syrian deal falls apart the pentagon is more to blame than the Russians. The Russians have already raised doubts over the USA not having enough control over the rebels it supports.
1
Only the NYT Editorial Board praises Kerry's "accomplishments".
the Paris climate change agreement is words.
The Iran nuclear deal is poised to be a calamity.
The cease-fire in Syria depends on the cooperation of Russia which is unlikely.
The foreign affairs successes of Hillary Clinton, Obama. and Kerry, have been limited to photo ops and meaningless talk signifying nothing.
the Paris climate change agreement is words.
The Iran nuclear deal is poised to be a calamity.
The cease-fire in Syria depends on the cooperation of Russia which is unlikely.
The foreign affairs successes of Hillary Clinton, Obama. and Kerry, have been limited to photo ops and meaningless talk signifying nothing.
7
The idea that the conflict in Syria continues because of outside interference is pretty compelling. It has become a multi-faceted proxy war as well as a brutal civil war. There has been no real incentive for any of the external parties to withdraw. I'm afraid this ceasefire may be more of the same.
3
Not even a good try. But you did your best to make lemonade out of a lemon.
2
What has driven Kerry in all of his attempts to solve the various problems around the world was all based on his quest to establish a legacy. And there can be no better example of this than the way he dedicated months of effort into trying to solve the Israel-Palestinian issue, when at the same time Syria was exploding into a war that has since killed 500,000.
The only possible reason why he decided to dedicate his time and efforts to the Israeli-Palestinian issue at a time when things were relatively peaceful between those 2 parties and of no urgency at all, when at the same time Syria was exploding to bits, was because the prize to his legacy for getting the Israelis and Palestinians to reach a deal when so many had failed before him, would have gone down in the history books as a much greater accomplishment than solving the Syrian crisis.
And so the only reason that he left Syria to crash and burn for all these years, was for his own selfish reasons. He cared not a wit about the urgency of a crisis or what was at stake in how he determined what to focus on. The sole criteria for what he decided to work on was how it would add to his legacy.
However the job of secretary of state is to represent the interest of the US and the international community. By choosing to represent only his own personal interests, treating his position as a means to build a legacy, he completely failed to fulfill his duty, which was to the USA, and not to his selfish interests.
The only possible reason why he decided to dedicate his time and efforts to the Israeli-Palestinian issue at a time when things were relatively peaceful between those 2 parties and of no urgency at all, when at the same time Syria was exploding to bits, was because the prize to his legacy for getting the Israelis and Palestinians to reach a deal when so many had failed before him, would have gone down in the history books as a much greater accomplishment than solving the Syrian crisis.
And so the only reason that he left Syria to crash and burn for all these years, was for his own selfish reasons. He cared not a wit about the urgency of a crisis or what was at stake in how he determined what to focus on. The sole criteria for what he decided to work on was how it would add to his legacy.
However the job of secretary of state is to represent the interest of the US and the international community. By choosing to represent only his own personal interests, treating his position as a means to build a legacy, he completely failed to fulfill his duty, which was to the USA, and not to his selfish interests.
3
As a young officer in the military, the Vietnam veteran John Kerry came back to give eyewitness and personal account of a disastrous war that America ventured into with cooked up incident at the Gulf of Tonkin. His observations were genuine and he knows the ravages of war more than anybody else in his position. It is a tragedy that he was defeated by W. Bush in 2004 by an electorate who got swayed by media which promotes entertainment and feigned bravado over thoughtful discourse. I am afraid this is going on even today with a consummate showman holding his own over a life-long public servant!
8
He is the very model of an Obama Secretary of State. He believes that diplomacy is talk backed up by nothing.
He has continued the work of his predecessor:
For centuries, Russia was prevented from gaining a base on the Mediterranean, first by Britain and then by the US. Hillary pushed her "reset button," and now Russia has a naval base and an air base in Latakia, Syria.
In 2008, Russia was a failed state and Putin was a clown. Now Russia has the Crimea, eastern Ukraine, threatens another Cold War, and the US defers to Putin in the Middle East.
The Arab Spring was an unqualified disaster. A US ambassador there was murdered in the ruins of his own consulate.
Iran has been elevated to a regional power, and the brink of world power.
If Kerry has been a great statesman, it wasn't for the US.
He has continued the work of his predecessor:
For centuries, Russia was prevented from gaining a base on the Mediterranean, first by Britain and then by the US. Hillary pushed her "reset button," and now Russia has a naval base and an air base in Latakia, Syria.
In 2008, Russia was a failed state and Putin was a clown. Now Russia has the Crimea, eastern Ukraine, threatens another Cold War, and the US defers to Putin in the Middle East.
The Arab Spring was an unqualified disaster. A US ambassador there was murdered in the ruins of his own consulate.
Iran has been elevated to a regional power, and the brink of world power.
If Kerry has been a great statesman, it wasn't for the US.
7
“Never confuse activity for results”. We expect our government to not simply raise taxes and spend money but to deliver results. We expect our Secretary of State to not simply fly to every country in the world but to deliver diplomatic results. John Kerry is doing that. Hillary Clinton never did – she was all about activity, not results. When she was a Senator it was the same thing – she showed up, but accomplished nothing. And now she wants to be President. Let’s hope she puts people like Rahm Emmanuel and John Kerry on her team -- people who can actually get stuff done.
There will be many people celebrating when Obama finally leaves the Presidency, but probably none more than the people of Syria.
There will be many people celebrating when Obama finally leaves the Presidency, but probably none more than the people of Syria.
4
While the editorial's bottom line is sound- he deserves credit for trying - Kerry's record is more mixed, and his foibles understated. Among his crowning achievements cited are the controversial Iran deal and supposedly ridding Syria of chemical weapons. But the Iran settlement merely involved paying the Iranians to put their nuclear weaponization program on hold for a few years, to make it someone else's problem (it'll still be our problem though), and Assad was still using chemical weapons just a few weeks ago, as reported in the Times. The picture of Kerry that emerges from his actions and those who know him is of an earnest man of boundless energy, but whose potential will always be hampered by an outsized, preening ego that leads him to grandiose imaginings of his own abilities. But, yes, all seem to agree, there is credit - and honor - in trying.
7
You might have pinted out that Mr. Trump suggested working with Russia BEFORE Mr. Obama and Mr. Kerry realized that it was a good idea.
8
Well, yes, in comparison to his predecessor, Secretary Kerry appears to be Mr. Accomplished Diplomacy. However, if we examine the results we may conclude that the solutions are far from successful.
Nothing has been done about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
North Korea continues to be a loose cannon which serves China well as leverage in the "Taiwan question." After all, N. Korea survives only by the grace of China.
The Iranian deal, seems at best shady with secret agreements, loose inspections and a clear path for an Iranian nuclear program which will result in a nuclear weapons. It's going to happen. Hardly, a good result.
In Syria, The US is accepting that Assad will remain in power, probably not a bad thing considering the alternative. Clearly, Russia comes out on top while we try to save face by appealing to humanitarian concerns and of course, increasing the number of refugees coming to our shores.
While we make deals with Russia, Ukraine is occupied by Russian forces and Crimea annexed --to say noting of the intensified effort of cyber attacks originating from Russia and China.
Hardly, a stellar performance in Foreign Affairs.
Nothing has been done about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
North Korea continues to be a loose cannon which serves China well as leverage in the "Taiwan question." After all, N. Korea survives only by the grace of China.
The Iranian deal, seems at best shady with secret agreements, loose inspections and a clear path for an Iranian nuclear program which will result in a nuclear weapons. It's going to happen. Hardly, a good result.
In Syria, The US is accepting that Assad will remain in power, probably not a bad thing considering the alternative. Clearly, Russia comes out on top while we try to save face by appealing to humanitarian concerns and of course, increasing the number of refugees coming to our shores.
While we make deals with Russia, Ukraine is occupied by Russian forces and Crimea annexed --to say noting of the intensified effort of cyber attacks originating from Russia and China.
Hardly, a stellar performance in Foreign Affairs.
3
It appears there is a contrast between the service of Mr. Kerry and Mrs. Clinton. As the New York Times has pointed out in numerous stories, Mrs. Clinton and her staff were often more focused on photo ops and a future Presidential run. To that end her service appears to be resume building. Mr. Kerry goes about his daily work without fanfare except when Diplomacy and decorum requires it. Yes, he can appear to have goals that may be naive and a bit verbose, but he also often reflects the seriousness of any given situation through his body language and tone. When his service is over, I am sure he will not second guess and announce the differences in opinion with the President as Mrs. Clinton has done for political gain.
3
Despite his impressive CV, John Kerry has displayed the shrewdness and good judgment of Candide and other naifs as Secretary of State. Granted, BO's S of S role is doomed to failure since the White House makes all real decisions internally, no matter what cabinet officers think. In that sense, by accepting the job to salve his hurt feelings about inability to win the presidency, Kerry embarked on a sleigh ride down Mt. Everest. If the results hadn't been so disasterous for the U.S. they would be low comedy.
1
To strive, to seek; is noble. To try try again in the face of failure is one definition of courage.
Agreed. Hats off in salute to Sec. John Kerry. A truly good man to have on our side.
Agreed. Hats off in salute to Sec. John Kerry. A truly good man to have on our side.
2
The last truce in Syria fell through when the rebels attacked Khan Touman and the Syrian government and its Russian allies found themselves forced to stop their offensive against ISIS near Palmyra and move their troops back to the Aleppo region.
This was a joint operation of Al Nusra and the Pentagon supported "moderate" rebels. The rebels could only do this because they had received massive amounts of supplies during the truce.
Although it is hard from the outside to discern the involvement of Turkey and Saudi Arabia from that of the Pentagon it should be clear that the Pentagon carried more responsibility than Russia.
This was a joint operation of Al Nusra and the Pentagon supported "moderate" rebels. The rebels could only do this because they had received massive amounts of supplies during the truce.
Although it is hard from the outside to discern the involvement of Turkey and Saudi Arabia from that of the Pentagon it should be clear that the Pentagon carried more responsibility than Russia.
REALITY-CHECK: Mr Kerry is in a No-Win situation, almost everywhere. Both the situations, and the cards that he has to play, make it virtually impossible to accomplish anything
** SYRIA: Impossible good outcome since the Russians want to SUPPORT Assad, while the US is holding the *insane* position, that we want to REMOVE Assad, and have no gameplan of what would come next, even if we did so.
CEASE-FIRE? With who?? The only party there that could even remotely be expected to honor a CeaseFire is Assad Certainly ISIS isn't participating, and the multitude of Rebel groups, that idiots refer to as 'moderates' have no long-term goals other than to keep trying to overthrow the existing Government. The rebels there don't want to become George Washingtons, they want to become the next Al-Bagdadi, or Saddam
Any moderates would simply have left the country rather than trying to take down Assad
We should not expect Assad to ignore Rebellion groups trying to overthrow his government, and since they are mixed in with civilians, the only sane choice is to attack them where they are
AND the US made it a million times worse by throwing money & weapons at them, and giving them the idea that "WE" were going to change-the-regime
** ISRAEL: Will never willingly do ANYTHING, except year-by-year, inch-by-inch, continue to take more land
Palestinians can no more *negotiate* with Israel, than a field-mouse can negotiate with a rattlesnake
THE US/UN created this, and THAT is the only solution
** SYRIA: Impossible good outcome since the Russians want to SUPPORT Assad, while the US is holding the *insane* position, that we want to REMOVE Assad, and have no gameplan of what would come next, even if we did so.
CEASE-FIRE? With who?? The only party there that could even remotely be expected to honor a CeaseFire is Assad Certainly ISIS isn't participating, and the multitude of Rebel groups, that idiots refer to as 'moderates' have no long-term goals other than to keep trying to overthrow the existing Government. The rebels there don't want to become George Washingtons, they want to become the next Al-Bagdadi, or Saddam
Any moderates would simply have left the country rather than trying to take down Assad
We should not expect Assad to ignore Rebellion groups trying to overthrow his government, and since they are mixed in with civilians, the only sane choice is to attack them where they are
AND the US made it a million times worse by throwing money & weapons at them, and giving them the idea that "WE" were going to change-the-regime
** ISRAEL: Will never willingly do ANYTHING, except year-by-year, inch-by-inch, continue to take more land
Palestinians can no more *negotiate* with Israel, than a field-mouse can negotiate with a rattlesnake
THE US/UN created this, and THAT is the only solution
1
I’m heartened, at least provisionally, by the coupling for once of a humanitarian objective that we espouse with a rare understanding of the incentives required to secure it. Our military disagrees, but I support the sharing of targeting information with the Russians, at least for as long as they use it to go after our common enemy in Syria -- ISIS.
Unlike Bashar al-Assad, who wants populations resistant to his rule to be decimated, Russia’s primary purpose for being in Syria is to kill conveniently-assembled jihadists there rather than needing to kill them in Russian Federation enclaves. If we can facilitate that end, an acceptable quid pro quo might be keeping Assad from killing civilians.
We’ll have to see how serious Russia is about paying its debts once it’s agreed to buy the bread and indeed consumed it. Depending on that willingness, Kerry could merit congratulations on a deal well-cut or criticism for being led by the nose yet again by Russians. We’ll see.
Unlike Bashar al-Assad, who wants populations resistant to his rule to be decimated, Russia’s primary purpose for being in Syria is to kill conveniently-assembled jihadists there rather than needing to kill them in Russian Federation enclaves. If we can facilitate that end, an acceptable quid pro quo might be keeping Assad from killing civilians.
We’ll have to see how serious Russia is about paying its debts once it’s agreed to buy the bread and indeed consumed it. Depending on that willingness, Kerry could merit congratulations on a deal well-cut or criticism for being led by the nose yet again by Russians. We’ll see.
9
Right on Richard!
By geographic proximity and demographic socioeconomic political destiny, Russia has lot more to fear from al Qaeda, ISIL, Zionism and Wahhabism than America.
There is no military solution to the boiling ethnic sectarian cauldron civil wars in the Middle East. I do not care how much Russian blood and treasure is wasted. My heart, mind and soul is focused on the 0.75% of Americans who have volunteered to put on an American military uniform since 9/11. Along with our "allies" who work against us and the enemies who wish us ill.
The Arab Spring is the rising human tide of tomorrow of a growing young hopeful millennial mass of humanity tired of being the pawns of foreign super powers and their local puppets.
American diplomacy supported by commerce and humanitarian aid pursuing the virtues of civil secular plural egalitarian democracy where all human beings are divinely created equal with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are our national weapons of mass construction.
Neither Secretary of State John Kerry nor Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter are the holder of the Article 2 executive power in the Constitution. America is engaged in Special Ops, cyber and drone war without proper legislative public debate and authorization because of Mr. Obama.
By geographic proximity and demographic socioeconomic political destiny, Russia has lot more to fear from al Qaeda, ISIL, Zionism and Wahhabism than America.
There is no military solution to the boiling ethnic sectarian cauldron civil wars in the Middle East. I do not care how much Russian blood and treasure is wasted. My heart, mind and soul is focused on the 0.75% of Americans who have volunteered to put on an American military uniform since 9/11. Along with our "allies" who work against us and the enemies who wish us ill.
The Arab Spring is the rising human tide of tomorrow of a growing young hopeful millennial mass of humanity tired of being the pawns of foreign super powers and their local puppets.
American diplomacy supported by commerce and humanitarian aid pursuing the virtues of civil secular plural egalitarian democracy where all human beings are divinely created equal with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are our national weapons of mass construction.
Neither Secretary of State John Kerry nor Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter are the holder of the Article 2 executive power in the Constitution. America is engaged in Special Ops, cyber and drone war without proper legislative public debate and authorization because of Mr. Obama.
1
Richard,
The "bread" Russia and we here in the U.S. Eat could "glow" a little in the dark as a result of Kerry's "good works" (Not!) in North Korea.
The "bread" Russia and we here in the U.S. Eat could "glow" a little in the dark as a result of Kerry's "good works" (Not!) in North Korea.
1
Black Mamba:
Interesting mixture of convictions. I support the earlier ones but I also support Obama's clandestine war, if that's the best we can get out of him.
My Esteemed Other Brother Richard:
It hasn't been noted that I've seen, but Kerry has been one of the most invisible secretaries of state in our history. Give him at least his fifteen minutes. That head of hair alone at his age warrants it.
Interesting mixture of convictions. I support the earlier ones but I also support Obama's clandestine war, if that's the best we can get out of him.
My Esteemed Other Brother Richard:
It hasn't been noted that I've seen, but Kerry has been one of the most invisible secretaries of state in our history. Give him at least his fifteen minutes. That head of hair alone at his age warrants it.
1
400,000 dead in Syria in a civil war that would not have occurred without US weapons supplied to the "rebels" argues for a less cute nickname than "Mr. Diplomacy". I think Mr. Kerry would be better dubbed as "Dr. Death".
7
Here;
The real death toll is almost one million Syrian folks...don't consider official/UN sham statistics!!!
The real death toll is almost one million Syrian folks...don't consider official/UN sham statistics!!!
2
to THE EDITORIAL BOARD,
Wow, what a piece of work . this work reminds me of a man I asked him what he is doing. He told me, he is working on: "Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics, aluminum and steel under a constraint environment".
I was impressed . . . on further asking, I learnt that he was washing dishes with hot water . . . Under his wife's supervision ...
You guys really know how to do a presentation and I would recommend that you elevate Mr. Kerry to be a Saint ... This guy is a total disaster in all directions . . and you know it . . So, stop your shenanigans ....
Wow, what a piece of work . this work reminds me of a man I asked him what he is doing. He told me, he is working on: "Aqua-thermal treatment of ceramics, aluminum and steel under a constraint environment".
I was impressed . . . on further asking, I learnt that he was washing dishes with hot water . . . Under his wife's supervision ...
You guys really know how to do a presentation and I would recommend that you elevate Mr. Kerry to be a Saint ... This guy is a total disaster in all directions . . and you know it . . So, stop your shenanigans ....
15
We don't "know" he's a disaster - you didn't say why? Can you give examples with context? The world is a complicated morass of wars and civil unrest. What's your solution?
2
Kerry is a war veteran. He fought and was injured in war. He served his country and still does. His experience has taught him that war is always to be avoided. It kills our children.
I would ask you
What have you done lately for your country
A country that oppresses women, Christians, and anyone that does not agree with the hard line. The rich do as they wish behind closed doors the poor are punished.
Your country has spread the worst form of radical Islam across the world
For greed and power.
I could go on...
My only question is
Why do we consider SA a friend when they are
the beating heart of terrorism?
I would ask you
What have you done lately for your country
A country that oppresses women, Christians, and anyone that does not agree with the hard line. The rich do as they wish behind closed doors the poor are punished.
Your country has spread the worst form of radical Islam across the world
For greed and power.
I could go on...
My only question is
Why do we consider SA a friend when they are
the beating heart of terrorism?
8
You, sir, are spot on.
3
Amid all the posturing and mudslinging of this campaign year, it's important to have this reminder of where politics, and particularly international relations, really happen - in the tireless, obstinant service of highly competent and determined people like John Kerry. I've always thought it was a shame that he wasn't more successful in a presidential bid - but he's been the right person in the right place in his current office.
28
"decorated Vietnam veteran and former head of the Senate Foreign Relations " and to that list wish could it could include ex US President. Kerry would have been an excellent president so unlike the nabob who defeated him back in 2004. In my heart I believe that if Kerry had won instead the nation - the world - would be a safer and more peaceful place.
125
Your optimism is touching. The Good Fairy will be by momentarily. For all of W's shortcomings, he was not as great a fool.
2
So do I!
Syria is nearly at the halfway point to the tragedy in Rwanda under Warren Christopher and President Clinton in a few months. Not sure how anyone can consider a half million civilian deaths a triumph of diplomacy, or even a remotely good foreign policy position. How far away does a rape have to occur before it is no longer your responsibility to come to their aid? Across the street? Next traffic light? Diplomacy is only possible with a strong and ready military and a wise civilian leader without crowd surfing myopia. What's the going rate for an American hostage these days? Mass migration is a security issue, not a diplomatic one, pure and simple....in their neighborhood, or yours.
Globalists are all about economy and hassle-free travel, but somehow forget to secure the trade routes, or citizens...or add an enforceable consequence to breach. Just leave your doors unlocked and keep your fridge stocked. I will be there for breakfast.
Globalists are all about economy and hassle-free travel, but somehow forget to secure the trade routes, or citizens...or add an enforceable consequence to breach. Just leave your doors unlocked and keep your fridge stocked. I will be there for breakfast.
9
@ J - How could John Kerry have prevented the Syrian conflagration? This Editorial is about John Kerry not about Syria. Your comment seems to have nothing to do with the editorial but very much about your random thoughts about various topics in the news. I click on off topic, not to get anyone to erase your comment but just to express an opinion.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen-US SE
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen-US SE
J;
Thoughtful and having deep insight. Truthful and folks don't approve of such a bold position!!!
Thoughtful and having deep insight. Truthful and folks don't approve of such a bold position!!!
1
KERRY Is a truly patriotic, honorable Amercan who, certainly through no fault of his own, has been sent on one mission-impossible after another. To paraphrase Rumsfeld on fighting terrorism after 9/11, we have to deal with the world as it is, not the world that we want. Kerry, indefatigable, idealistic and determined, continues to bring his unflagging optimism to the table time and again, with little expectation for attaining his goals. He demonstrates a determination to bring to a war-torn, weary and ugly world, a ray of hope--often blotted out by the dark, evil intentions of the opponents and enemies of the US. John Kerry wears as a badge of honor, the notion of American exceptionalism--going the distance in pursuit of the human rights of the oppressed living in some of the most dire, desperate places on the planet. He is a noble man who believes in attempting to solve insoluble challenges with good will and a profound wish for global healing in the shattered places created by violence and destruction. I agree that it's a bad idea to give Putin information of value that he could fork over to Assad. But I do believe that Kerry has a clear understanding of the evil intent of the brutal, ruthless former KGB chief. Looking forward, I think that Hilary would be very fortunate if John Kerry would agree to be her Secretary of State. The fragmentation of our nation by GOP saboteurs, will be judged as a blot on the integrity of the US. Kerry shines out as a bright light.
50
Is a bad deal better than no deal? Nearly everyone would answer that question with an emphatic ‘No.’
The answer, however, may change to a ‘Yes’ if we change the wording of the question slightly to ask: Is a less-than-perfect deal better than no deal?
John Kerry may not be a diplomat with towering intellectual prowess, but he has a practical intelligence. He grasps the reality that in the right circumstances, one round of partially successful negotiations can lead to a follow-up round which achieves the original objective.
Put another way, Secretary Kerry does not let the perfect get in the way of the good.
President Obama, though his measured restraint is an asset which has served the nation well, sometimes is too much of a perfectionist.
The answer, however, may change to a ‘Yes’ if we change the wording of the question slightly to ask: Is a less-than-perfect deal better than no deal?
John Kerry may not be a diplomat with towering intellectual prowess, but he has a practical intelligence. He grasps the reality that in the right circumstances, one round of partially successful negotiations can lead to a follow-up round which achieves the original objective.
Put another way, Secretary Kerry does not let the perfect get in the way of the good.
President Obama, though his measured restraint is an asset which has served the nation well, sometimes is too much of a perfectionist.
37
Negotiation just finished. Even before President Obama being briefed about the progress of meeting and there is no joint statement released to public just yet. Who are we, the outsiders (press included) rush to judgment about
the meeting. I think it is unwise for anyone to making assessment now. We should exercise patience. History taught us that secrecy promotes suspicion. President Truman unwillingness to share the Atom Bomb secret with Soviet Union was one of the reason triggered the arms race and cold war. We are in no hurry knowing that cool head will prevail
In JFK Peace Speech at American University:.06/10/63)
And history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, do not last forever. However fixed our likes and dislikes may seem, the tide of time and events will often bring surprising changes in the relations between nations and neighbors......But we can still hail the Russian people for their many achievements in science and space, in economic and industrial growth, in culture, in acts of courage.
the meeting. I think it is unwise for anyone to making assessment now. We should exercise patience. History taught us that secrecy promotes suspicion. President Truman unwillingness to share the Atom Bomb secret with Soviet Union was one of the reason triggered the arms race and cold war. We are in no hurry knowing that cool head will prevail
In JFK Peace Speech at American University:.06/10/63)
And history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, do not last forever. However fixed our likes and dislikes may seem, the tide of time and events will often bring surprising changes in the relations between nations and neighbors......But we can still hail the Russian people for their many achievements in science and space, in economic and industrial growth, in culture, in acts of courage.
4
Chen;
Don't expose Kerry's 'under the table' deal with Lavrov. Kerry is to generous for giving too much space to Russians and Asad at the cost of Syrian folks, 'children of the lesser God'!!!!
Don't expose Kerry's 'under the table' deal with Lavrov. Kerry is to generous for giving too much space to Russians and Asad at the cost of Syrian folks, 'children of the lesser God'!!!!
3
In describing Kerry the Editorial Board's use of the words "Heroic" and especially "Honourable" (though you write the latter differently!) are the best possible descriptions of this outstanding politician.
Kerry has spent his life bringing people together, often in pursuit of unpopular and seemingly impossible tasks such as the U.S.-Iran nuclear accord. Significantly, he assumed the latter responsibility after Hillary Clinton resigned to pursue her personal ambitions.
And that's the difference between the two: Kerry selfless, tireless, honest, principled. Hillary Clinton selfish, unfit, devious and unprincipled.
I, and many of my European friends, wish Kerry were the next U.S. President. We feel he would have beaten Trump by the largest landslide in U.S. history. Instead we have a nail-biting finish between Bad and Worse.
Kerry has spent his life bringing people together, often in pursuit of unpopular and seemingly impossible tasks such as the U.S.-Iran nuclear accord. Significantly, he assumed the latter responsibility after Hillary Clinton resigned to pursue her personal ambitions.
And that's the difference between the two: Kerry selfless, tireless, honest, principled. Hillary Clinton selfish, unfit, devious and unprincipled.
I, and many of my European friends, wish Kerry were the next U.S. President. We feel he would have beaten Trump by the largest landslide in U.S. history. Instead we have a nail-biting finish between Bad and Worse.
30
@ Hamid - Me too as concerns Kerry as President. I confess I do not remember what discussions went on about him running. But of course he should already have been president.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen US SE
1
America's Mr. diplomacy has tarnished its image beyond repair for times to come. US despite its poor record in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya was considered to be a beacon of democracy, social justice, and freedom...not any more.
John Kerry is responsible for giving Assad absolute impunity to use chemical weapons in Aleppo. Prior to it, Assad has committed a genocide of one million Syrian folks destroying the entire Syrian civilization. Kerry handed the 'middle east' geopolitical clout to his counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Putin.
Currently, US has a very diminished role in Syrian conflict which was started by secularist and moderate opposition getting inspiration from Obama's Cairo speech. As US small weapons support of FSA got diluted/eroded in early 2013, Assad's military prevailed in Syria with the help of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. Extremists groups like Al Nusra front and Da'esh got well entrenched.
If Obama has accepted Hillary's proposal of establishing 'no fly zone' in Syria, Assad would have been removed from power four years back. Russia and Iran have not targeted Da'esh rather they have attacked moderate opposition groups wiping them out. Kerry's falling in love with Russian supremacy in Syria will have detrimental repercussions for the 'middle east' peace.
Joining hands with Russia in the so called truce in Aleppo, US has submitted to Russian hegemony in the 'middle east' which could be disastrous for global peace. Obama has disappointed millions of folks!!!
John Kerry is responsible for giving Assad absolute impunity to use chemical weapons in Aleppo. Prior to it, Assad has committed a genocide of one million Syrian folks destroying the entire Syrian civilization. Kerry handed the 'middle east' geopolitical clout to his counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Putin.
Currently, US has a very diminished role in Syrian conflict which was started by secularist and moderate opposition getting inspiration from Obama's Cairo speech. As US small weapons support of FSA got diluted/eroded in early 2013, Assad's military prevailed in Syria with the help of Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. Extremists groups like Al Nusra front and Da'esh got well entrenched.
If Obama has accepted Hillary's proposal of establishing 'no fly zone' in Syria, Assad would have been removed from power four years back. Russia and Iran have not targeted Da'esh rather they have attacked moderate opposition groups wiping them out. Kerry's falling in love with Russian supremacy in Syria will have detrimental repercussions for the 'middle east' peace.
Joining hands with Russia in the so called truce in Aleppo, US has submitted to Russian hegemony in the 'middle east' which could be disastrous for global peace. Obama has disappointed millions of folks!!!
3
Someone from the UK complaining about US in Syria? Will wonders never cease?
Read my comment earlier in this same article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/opinion/americas-mr-diplomacy.html#per...
Read my comment earlier in this same article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/15/opinion/americas-mr-diplomacy.html#per...
6
Or, if Obama had established a no fly zone, we would be at war with Russia.
13
RSS;
Wars against Iraq, Libya, Mali for 'natural resource management' in the guise of finding WMDs in Iraq, removing Qaddafi for restoring democracy and getting hold of Libyan sweet crude, defeating Turag to get Uranium deposits...its all coalition of opportunism, sometimes 'players' will agree/disagree on their geopolitical/economic interests. Syria is being bled to slow death for energy route where all stakeholders regional or foreign maximize their vested interests at the cost of one million Syrian deaths, eight million refugees, destruction of entire Syria by Assad. There is no humanity left other than empty rhetoric!!!
Wars against Iraq, Libya, Mali for 'natural resource management' in the guise of finding WMDs in Iraq, removing Qaddafi for restoring democracy and getting hold of Libyan sweet crude, defeating Turag to get Uranium deposits...its all coalition of opportunism, sometimes 'players' will agree/disagree on their geopolitical/economic interests. Syria is being bled to slow death for energy route where all stakeholders regional or foreign maximize their vested interests at the cost of one million Syrian deaths, eight million refugees, destruction of entire Syria by Assad. There is no humanity left other than empty rhetoric!!!
6
When Kerry began his involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict he announced that he would solve the border issue within four months. This is a hundred and fifty years old conflict, and he thought he could solve it in months.
In spite of his very earnest attempts to advance a solution, this illustrates his naivité - or perhaps vanity. It reflects a certain arrogance: I understand something that both sides don't see, and when I'll explain it to you, the conflict will be solved.
Sadly, this isn't the case. If he came with a more modest attitude, perhaps he could have been more helpful.
onourselvesandothers.com
In spite of his very earnest attempts to advance a solution, this illustrates his naivité - or perhaps vanity. It reflects a certain arrogance: I understand something that both sides don't see, and when I'll explain it to you, the conflict will be solved.
Sadly, this isn't the case. If he came with a more modest attitude, perhaps he could have been more helpful.
onourselvesandothers.com
1
Can you provide the link(s) where Kerry said he would solve the border issue in four months? Thanks!
2
A Secretary of State who actually believes in diplomacy. Imagine that! A great American . . . And what donkeys we were not to elect him to the presidency.
78
I voted for this even though it contains an innuendo against a woman who was also a diplomat and worked closely with Kerry to contribute to and help accomplish all that he achieved. That part of it is so tired and wrong.
Despite a few diplomatic setbacks like his inability to push the Israel-Palestine deal to logical end, the US Secretary of state John Kerry could rightly boast of many spectacular achievents too on having successfully negotiated some of the most complex issue of global import,like the Iran nuclear deal, ending political deadlock in Afghanistan, the US-Russia agreement on defusing the Syrian chemical weapons crisis, or now the latest one between the US and Russia on a ceasefire in Syria. Without expecting much even if limited purpose of halting violence and extending humanitarian assistance to the war torn areas as set out in the week long ceasefire agreement is achieved with a little mutual understanding among the players, this would in itself be a big breakthrough towards breaking an unending cycle of violence and a step toward confidence building, which could be leveraged further to explore the prospects of finding political solution to the Syrian crisis. Don't blame Russia for all the mischief, is the US politico-military establishment doing any better job by transmitting contradictory signals about the whole issue? Prudence demands that the Kerry negotiated short term ceasefire agreement for Syria be at least given a chance.
12
In this day and age of divisive and vituperative poliics, this country should give a moment of thanks to Secretary of State John Kerry, who at this point must be one of the hardest working humans on the planet.
Given the condition of world politics today, his is not an enviable position -- and yet he has dutifully undertaken each and every assignment, sometimes with less than stellar results, often without the support of his countrymen.
At this point, one can only wish him success and Godspeed when it comes to tackling the case of Syria.....And a word of thanks, and praise.
Given the condition of world politics today, his is not an enviable position -- and yet he has dutifully undertaken each and every assignment, sometimes with less than stellar results, often without the support of his countrymen.
At this point, one can only wish him success and Godspeed when it comes to tackling the case of Syria.....And a word of thanks, and praise.
24
What a supreme waste of taxpayer money. Kerry should open a diplomatic cubicle in the pentagon where patriots can keep an eye on him. He has been channeling the nativism perspective way beyond even to his own personal benefit. In the long run, it will cost us more American lives than his efforts will have saved. That is not projecting American interests.
1
I marvel at naysayers who think any of what Mr. Kerry or for that matter any S.o.S. does is easy or decisions clear cut. Only history will decide if these deals stick but it's a darn sight better than having our government stick their proverbial heads in the sand and pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist.
Kerry is an intelligent man and understand the political landscape that encourages generals and politicians to hedge their bets. Ours is a country guided less these days by values and more of one driven by policies and ideologies. There's a lot of gray area when you attempt to do the right thing when there is nothing but difficult choices.
I applaud his tireless pursuit of peace in Syria and his skill in dealing with governments whose values we do not share.
I hope for the sake of all the citizens of Syria they get the relief to their suffering that is abysmally long overdue.
Kerry is an intelligent man and understand the political landscape that encourages generals and politicians to hedge their bets. Ours is a country guided less these days by values and more of one driven by policies and ideologies. There's a lot of gray area when you attempt to do the right thing when there is nothing but difficult choices.
I applaud his tireless pursuit of peace in Syria and his skill in dealing with governments whose values we do not share.
I hope for the sake of all the citizens of Syria they get the relief to their suffering that is abysmally long overdue.
19
I think it is unfair to put responsibility for peace in Syria only on Russia especially if America wants to claim the credit. America should be a responsible player as well and put more pressure on American-backed rebels and such countries as Saudi to uphold their part of bargain. Unfortunately, previous ceasefire showed that the US is more interested to oppose Russia than to provide peace in Syria.
7
The USA is the cause of the fiasco in Syria . Remember it was Obama's desire for regime change in Syria which started this. Obama used the excuse of what he called a civil war in Syria , to intervene. Knowing USA's favourite tactics, I wouldn't doubt that the USA started the civil war as well. Then the USA hired terrorists Al Queda mercenaries as 'moderate allies'. So the USA troops are meeting themselves coming through the revolving door.
The USA is the world's greatest war monger country and this will only get worse with Hillary Clinton staged to be the next President with plans already to start wars against China and Russia.
Nice country, the USA, but their twin party Democrats and Republicans are both similarly irresponsible, and try to outdo each other in carrying out the orders of their puppet master(s) who are the secret rich clique who own ( or control) all the News , and dictate Foreign Policy to their useless puppets like Clinton or Trump. What a sad state this world is facing unless someone in the USA speaks truth to power, and arrest all who brougjt us 9-11. That will be a start in getting USA Democracy back from the Filthy Oligarchs !
The USA is the world's greatest war monger country and this will only get worse with Hillary Clinton staged to be the next President with plans already to start wars against China and Russia.
Nice country, the USA, but their twin party Democrats and Republicans are both similarly irresponsible, and try to outdo each other in carrying out the orders of their puppet master(s) who are the secret rich clique who own ( or control) all the News , and dictate Foreign Policy to their useless puppets like Clinton or Trump. What a sad state this world is facing unless someone in the USA speaks truth to power, and arrest all who brougjt us 9-11. That will be a start in getting USA Democracy back from the Filthy Oligarchs !
3
Diplomacy is the art of engaging and dealing. It is the method by which we peacefully persuade, influence, and convince others of our values and interests. On the other hand, war is the method by which we use violence to achieve the same ends.
Every day that Mr. Kerry pursues diplomacy is another day that war is foregone. I applaud his efforts to build a more just and peaceful world. The challenges of the future -- such as climate change, global pandemics, etc. -- are too big for one nation to solve, even the US. We must partner up, leverage resources, and coordinate our strategies. This is done not by war, radio silence, or unilateralism. It is done by the old fashion way of coming to the table, listening to each other, and finding common ground. I applaud Mr. Kerry and all of our diplomats abroad for their service.
Every day that Mr. Kerry pursues diplomacy is another day that war is foregone. I applaud his efforts to build a more just and peaceful world. The challenges of the future -- such as climate change, global pandemics, etc. -- are too big for one nation to solve, even the US. We must partner up, leverage resources, and coordinate our strategies. This is done not by war, radio silence, or unilateralism. It is done by the old fashion way of coming to the table, listening to each other, and finding common ground. I applaud Mr. Kerry and all of our diplomats abroad for their service.
141
"Success depends on the cooperation of Russia, a duplicitous player in Syria’s tragic civil war and the main defender of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad".
No, success depends on US and their "allies" stopping support and funding of terrorists and terminating their illegal attempts to depose the legitimate government of Syria. Far from being a "duplicitous player" Russia always stated her goals and interests clearly and directly. It supports united, peaceful and secular Syria and opposes the militant islamists attempting to take it over. What is truly duplicitous is trying to put a blame for this disaster on Russia. Do you still not realise what you have done?
No, success depends on US and their "allies" stopping support and funding of terrorists and terminating their illegal attempts to depose the legitimate government of Syria. Far from being a "duplicitous player" Russia always stated her goals and interests clearly and directly. It supports united, peaceful and secular Syria and opposes the militant islamists attempting to take it over. What is truly duplicitous is trying to put a blame for this disaster on Russia. Do you still not realise what you have done?
8
The editors of the Times continue the CIA propaganda snd their own lies that redirect the cause of the war on Syria away from the US and its allies. Putin and Assad are not responsible for the Wahabist and Muslim Brotherhood mercenaries. Syria is no more civil war than was Vietnam and Nicaragua. All have been instigated by US interests. The Saudi and Qatari royals front the money. The US provides the weapons and Turkey is the main conduit for money, weapons, and fanatics flowing into Syria. The Times would have everyone forget the historical US campaigns to overthrow governments in the region - and beyond - to disastrous effect and its own complicity in promoting the lies to justify them.
10
No mention of the 2013 British Parliament vote against joining the US in Syria following Assad's use of chemical weapons, a vote for which British politicians boasted of having "stood up to the leader of the free world" instead of Assad. The vote not only pulled the rug out from under President Obama and Secretary Kerry's efforts but it also quieted members of Congress, especially Senator McCain, who had been clamoring to outdo each other against Assad and against President Obama. (The vote came only two years after President Obama was persuaded by David Cameron to use NATO to help the British and French to overthrow the Libyan leader.)
What President Obama and Secretary Kerry went on to do in joining forces with Russia to remove the chemical weapons from Syria (which led to OPCW winning the Nobel Prize for Peace) is nothing short of a miracle in light of the facts above.
But the fact that none of this is mentioned by the New York Times is not even surprising anymore.
What President Obama and Secretary Kerry went on to do in joining forces with Russia to remove the chemical weapons from Syria (which led to OPCW winning the Nobel Prize for Peace) is nothing short of a miracle in light of the facts above.
But the fact that none of this is mentioned by the New York Times is not even surprising anymore.
50
If "results" matter than Mr. Kerry has been one of the lest successful post - War holders of that esteemed office. Unless one counts the repeated humiliation of the U.S. by Iran and feckless policies re Syria as "successes".
4
Why, Piberman? Can you provide examples? Who claimed to have "successes"? Certainly no one in this editorial. How has Iran, a country that has suffered US proposed sanctions mightily, humiliated the US? Seems the other way around.
1
Examples of the current administration's lack of secures: North Korea, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan and Iran! 1500 characters won't cover the details!
3
Richard - You are under the impression we can "secure" all those countries? How? What's your plan? Use your 1500 characters.
Thank you! Have long waited for some extremely well-deserved recognition for Mr. Kerrys' tremendous & immensely valuable work!!!
26
Poor misunderstood Colin Powell. The guy is clearly politically tone deaf. There is not one political nuance in his body. As a soldier his only course would be to charge the hill, so no wonder his "doctrine" is overwhelming force. The poor guy has been used by Bush, Trump and he claims used by Mrs. Clinton. The only conclusion one can draw is that he is kind of a mope.
1
I strongly agree with this editorial. John Kerry has done the quiet hard work in distant places to try to bring about diplomatic solutions to complex problems, working with intransigent people and circumstances. Honorable and heroic sums up many aspects of his career in the military and as a senator. He was viciously attacked and smeared when he ran for president, but has persevered. Yes, there have been failures but many of these were situations that would have taken miracles. There have also been successes. His tireless efforts are a welcome model of dedication to this country and the world's best interests.
16
Official US policy, no matter the earnest insistence that it is seeking peace, is to somehow, covertly or otherwise, remove the current Syrian government. In this connection, Obama has armed and encouraged a motley assortment of jihadist groups to continue fighting the legally acknowledged Syrian government and its allies for five long years, killing tens of thousands of civilians. Russia is lawfully defending the Syrian government, while the US and its allied Gulf tyrannies are fueling an illegal terrorist insurgency. The US has learned nothing these past fifteen years.
6
Thank you for giving credit where credit is due. John Kerry has done a yeoman's job of attempting to broker understanding in almost nearly impossible situations. He is a true statesman, and has done this country an enormous service.
24
"Success depends on the cooperation of Russia..." In other words Russia must fall in line with our agenda of regime change in Syria? I would suggest the uprising in Syria would have been resolved in 2012 without our insistence that Assad must go before any peace talks. And Ash Carter, who appears to be working with the Neocons, should step down if he cannot take orders from the Commander in Chief.
10
Sorry, but no. Since the US and its allies support groups that fight alongside al Qaeda, it is also up to us. This pretense of American innocence only fools Americans.
And Kerry had no chance solving the Israeli- Palestinian conflict because the US will support Israel no matter what they do and everyone knows this. The Israelis have no incentive to change their behavior. The American diplomats and editorial writers can pretend some serious " peace process" was going on, but again, nobody except maybe some naive American newspaper readers were fooled.
And Kerry had no chance solving the Israeli- Palestinian conflict because the US will support Israel no matter what they do and everyone knows this. The Israelis have no incentive to change their behavior. The American diplomats and editorial writers can pretend some serious " peace process" was going on, but again, nobody except maybe some naive American newspaper readers were fooled.
10
Kerry is a joke, the Russians have run circles around him. We have zero leverage in Syria. We are bystanders to the world right now. The Russians are just using us to give their own corrupt motives a thin veneer of legitimacy.
2
To listen to Sec. Kerry talk about these problems, particularly the ineffable human tragedy of Syria, is to hear a man who speaks in the measured, thoughtful, realistic tones of diplomacy. Where did this come from?
What is it in the experience of this obviously gifted man, a war hero who knows in a deeply personal way about fighting and killing, that has imbued him with a clear-eyed view of the possibilities of negotiation and compromise? His understated wisdom when discussing the world's trouble spots, his understanding that suffering always results when the perfect is the enemy of the good, has served this country well, even when the outcome of his efforts, in hindsight, have been imperfect. He embraces and understands complexity and nuance.
The very idea that the talents and wisdom of Obama and Kerry could, by even the remotest of possibilities, be succeeded by the abject ignorance and folly of Trump and God-knows-who should make each and every man, woman, and child in America shudder with shame and fear. John Kerry and Barrack Obama; the two of them will be greatly missed.
What is it in the experience of this obviously gifted man, a war hero who knows in a deeply personal way about fighting and killing, that has imbued him with a clear-eyed view of the possibilities of negotiation and compromise? His understated wisdom when discussing the world's trouble spots, his understanding that suffering always results when the perfect is the enemy of the good, has served this country well, even when the outcome of his efforts, in hindsight, have been imperfect. He embraces and understands complexity and nuance.
The very idea that the talents and wisdom of Obama and Kerry could, by even the remotest of possibilities, be succeeded by the abject ignorance and folly of Trump and God-knows-who should make each and every man, woman, and child in America shudder with shame and fear. John Kerry and Barrack Obama; the two of them will be greatly missed.
92
Why Mr. Kerry's diplomacy has failed so many times and now looks even heroic?
Because the essence of President Obama's foreign policy in middle east is close to isolationism, though he has criticized Trump for leading US foreign policy to isolationism.
And too often, as we have seen, isolationism is post iraq war time is simply irresponsible. Yes, American people are tired of senseless wars. But once you have opened the Pandora box for other people, you can't simply close the box and pretend nothing has come out.
Because the essence of President Obama's foreign policy in middle east is close to isolationism, though he has criticized Trump for leading US foreign policy to isolationism.
And too often, as we have seen, isolationism is post iraq war time is simply irresponsible. Yes, American people are tired of senseless wars. But once you have opened the Pandora box for other people, you can't simply close the box and pretend nothing has come out.
Typo edit: Ugh. "Barack" Obama, not "Barrack." Big, thick, clumsy thumbs.
1
Secretary Kerry has proved to have built one of the most accomplished and distinguished careers of public service among the entire baby boomer generation: from an honored Vietnam veteran who publicly and bravely challenged the Nixon administration's prolonged war and military policies in southeast Asian military during the 1970's, to this year's crowning achievement as US Secretary of State, leading the negotiation to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities. We are fortunate Americans to live under his distinguished leadership--whether or not many of us understand or appreciate Mr. Kerry.
47
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton actually led the negotiations to dismantle Iran's nuclear capability but, as usual, people try to discount her success because she is a woman. This is how HIStory gets rewritten.
3
".....that Mr. Kerry too often pursues unwinnable goals and settles for imperfect outcomes."
This is criticism within his own administration as well as of outside experts.
The problem is that the damage caused by this approach is often apparent only after time has passed (e.g. Mr. Assad and co. seemed to continue using chemical weapons including recently).
The immediate or short term benefit obviously is clear from the beginning and that gets him the positive editorials. And he deserves immense credit for trying.
History, however, will judge to what extent the imperfect proved to be of long-lasting benefit and whether an A for effort was sufficient.
This is criticism within his own administration as well as of outside experts.
The problem is that the damage caused by this approach is often apparent only after time has passed (e.g. Mr. Assad and co. seemed to continue using chemical weapons including recently).
The immediate or short term benefit obviously is clear from the beginning and that gets him the positive editorials. And he deserves immense credit for trying.
History, however, will judge to what extent the imperfect proved to be of long-lasting benefit and whether an A for effort was sufficient.
2
John Kerry is one of my American heroes. Surely the best Secretary of State in the last 60 years. One of the many good decisions by President Obama. Thank you for recognizing his tireless efforts in "soft power."
22
The Republicans, Trump and the rest, who sneer at Kerry have nothing to offer but contempt for any form of diplomacy, advocating total capitulation under threat of carpet bombing of every living thing. Putin doesn't care, without messy populations to deal with he can impose whatever puppet he wants. Putin can see that Republicans quickly tire of actually governing, they want to impose quick rule and are oblivious to whether it works or not. Putin can wait that one out and pick up the spoils.
10
John Kerry's personal familiarity with the horrors of war - and the courage of his convictions, which made him a leader in showing the futility of the Vietnam war - undoubtedly make him generous with the willingness to use diplomacy.
What an upstanding person is Secretary Kerry. What an upstanding President he would have been.
What an upstanding person is Secretary Kerry. What an upstanding President he would have been.
168
It's interesting to see what his approach would be had his POTUS NOT stuck his foot in his mouth about a red line and Assad, and then subsequently done nothing on the sideline while Russia stepped in. We came from a cowboy-idiot of a POTUS (Bush, from 2000 to 2008) spouting-off and killing anyone that interferes with the fiction of him as a decisive c-in-c, to a completely gun-shy successor in Obama, afraid to back up any of his tough rhetoric. I exasperatingly ask if there is a middle ground between the two.
1
Before 2011 Syria had been firmly within Russia' sphere of influence and had been a Soviet/Russian client state since the 1950s. The Russians are simply not going to give up their last toehold in the Middle-East without a fight, if ever. The United States loses nothing by having Assad remain in power because Syria has never been in America's orbit. The country has been practically ruined and even if the Assad clan remains in power with Russian backing they will do so as the rulers of a ruined country. Therefore, the time has come for us to declare victory, wipe out ISIS and Al-Qaeda and extricate ourselves from this pointless quagmire. Let Saudi Arabia try to fight Russia on their own if Syria means so much to them.
One other thing: the Pentagon's claim that they can't cooperate with the Russian military out of fear that they will give away America's military secrets is bogus. I can assure you that the Russians are quite knowledgeable about America's military operational capabilities. They likely have extensive dossiers on every American officer that would be in that command center, and they probably have already stolen whatever technical information they could obtain from a joint command a long time ago.
The Pentagon is upset because the officer corps (and their ex-comrades in the defense companies) haven't gotten enough war with Obama in charge. Let them fume all they like, but the time has come to win the peace and the only way to do that is via diplomatic means.
One other thing: the Pentagon's claim that they can't cooperate with the Russian military out of fear that they will give away America's military secrets is bogus. I can assure you that the Russians are quite knowledgeable about America's military operational capabilities. They likely have extensive dossiers on every American officer that would be in that command center, and they probably have already stolen whatever technical information they could obtain from a joint command a long time ago.
The Pentagon is upset because the officer corps (and their ex-comrades in the defense companies) haven't gotten enough war with Obama in charge. Let them fume all they like, but the time has come to win the peace and the only way to do that is via diplomatic means.
51
The Pentagon is against working jointly with Russia since Russia is untrustworthy and has different values. It is a threat to world peace and is not exactly an ally with whom to share military secrets or information. Russia is trying to ingratiate itself with the US in order to have sanctions removed.
On the other hand the ceasefire is a godsend for the miserable Syrians who have been ruthlessly bombed, cluster-bombed and gassed by Assad and the Russians. Mr. Kerry is to be commended for his tireless work, however, even if ISIS is defeated, what happens next in Syria?
On the other hand the ceasefire is a godsend for the miserable Syrians who have been ruthlessly bombed, cluster-bombed and gassed by Assad and the Russians. Mr. Kerry is to be commended for his tireless work, however, even if ISIS is defeated, what happens next in Syria?
It's even worse than you indicate. At what point did the Pentagon decide it could make it's own decisions over what our Government does? If the Secretary of State, who acts under the direction of the President, concludes a treaty, the Pentagon MUST follow the instructions from the civilian government.
The President is their Commander-in-Chief and they MUST obey his orders, in this case, as indicated in the agreement negotiated by the State Department.
It is a very worrisome thing to read the Pentagon is acting the way it is being reported to be considering.
The President is their Commander-in-Chief and they MUST obey his orders, in this case, as indicated in the agreement negotiated by the State Department.
It is a very worrisome thing to read the Pentagon is acting the way it is being reported to be considering.
2
Exactly. Besides which: Any intelligence info the Pentagon tried to withhold from the Russians, their hackers quickly gain access to. Might as well try to get something in exchange.
Kerry is another one of those labeled as a "disaster" by Trump. Trump would rather go to war with Iran and other countries over gestures that he considers insulting than listen to or appoint the likes of Kerry.
"Mr. Diplomacy," Trump won't be and we all would be longing for the days of Obama and his cabinet should Trump succeed him.
"Mr. Diplomacy," Trump won't be and we all would be longing for the days of Obama and his cabinet should Trump succeed him.
26
The word "Lincolnesque" could apply to Kerry on a global scale as he tirelessly fights to keep the world from falling apart. I've admired him since the day he dramatically threw his ribbons over the White House fence in 1971. He has embodied the best in America: courage, compassion, intelligence and unwillingness to give up in spite of the worst odds. I was hoping he would run for president in 2016. He's earned that position. Instead we are faced with the threat of having a president with qualities opposite to his.
31
If Kerry is such a great negotiator why don't we send him to Chicago to negotiate a ceasefire there?
6
John Kerry should have been president. He is the unsung hero of the Obama Administration. One major foreign policy problem is difficult enough. Sec. of State Kerry has been ably dealing with multiple complex, ongoing crises and issues. Iran, Syria, Israel-Palestine, Africa, terrorism, climate change. He deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.
136
Then peace is no longer required for the prize?
1
An admirable man. It needs saying, that no matter how difficult it might be, we have to go on trying. There is no other world. We can't wave magic wands. There is no secret. Trump is awful. Assad is awful. Putin is awful. (Sorry, that's quite a "basket" (deplorable word) of awfuls, but it's de truth.)
So difficult. Here's a reminder of what's wrong with us, we have forgotten our soul (h/t Greg Laden, who reminded me of it just now), from The Newsroom (Sorkin, of West Wing fame). If your time is limited, skip to minute 4:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqOYBabXmA
Awesome. So let's get the work and stop demanding perfection, while we clean house of the people who are making things much much worse.
So difficult. Here's a reminder of what's wrong with us, we have forgotten our soul (h/t Greg Laden, who reminded me of it just now), from The Newsroom (Sorkin, of West Wing fame). If your time is limited, skip to minute 4:45
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqOYBabXmA
Awesome. So let's get the work and stop demanding perfection, while we clean house of the people who are making things much much worse.
14
"Success depends on the cooperation of Russia"
Success also depends on cooperation of the rebels we seek to protect, and depends on Saudi Arabia as the money bags that gives them power to defy us.
It is not just Russia. Russia is difficult, but it is not even the most difficult.
If the rebels attack, they will certainly be bombed. This is not a free pass for them to attack without risk from air power.
The rebels are disorganized, with a thousand (actual number, not hyperbole) different independent "leaders" who each seek their money and influence by proving their independence. The Saudis have too often been right there to pass out the money.
If the rebels ruin this, don't blame the Russians and reward the rebels for it.
Success also depends on cooperation of the rebels we seek to protect, and depends on Saudi Arabia as the money bags that gives them power to defy us.
It is not just Russia. Russia is difficult, but it is not even the most difficult.
If the rebels attack, they will certainly be bombed. This is not a free pass for them to attack without risk from air power.
The rebels are disorganized, with a thousand (actual number, not hyperbole) different independent "leaders" who each seek their money and influence by proving their independence. The Saudis have too often been right there to pass out the money.
If the rebels ruin this, don't blame the Russians and reward the rebels for it.
19
Secretary of Defense Aston Carter should be fired immediately. He has nearly zero knowledge of naval operation. His tough stand against China is at best tactically suicidal, Strategically retarded.
2
Are you familiar with the so-called great man theory of history? It claims that the course of human events are largely determined by the lives of a scant few individuals. Where here is a great man, John Kerry, who was undone by a not so great man, T. Boon Pickens. Can you imagine how different the world would be today if John Kerry was not Swift boated and won the presidency? One insane personal vendetta prevented a truly great man from putting the world on a completely different trajectory. Everything would be different today. We could have had sweet dreams and instead we got a nightmare.
145
There were some others. Gore, Carter. Though you could easily argue (correctly) that neither could scale the heights of rhetoric, they would have done some good, and saved us from a lot of mess.
The hostage deal that Reagan was able to trade on was not his success to claim. Shameless, like so much else.
The hostage deal that Reagan was able to trade on was not his success to claim. Shameless, like so much else.
37
Susan,
Although I agree that Carter had a lot to teach us Gore's diplomacy and disregard for the less fortunate among us and his economic policies were contemptible.The choice of Joe Lieberman as a running mate was as inspired as that of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin. Although I am no great fan of the Clinton's, their half hearted support of Gore was justified. Two thousand was in my estimation the worse year we had for picking a President. I think 1980 the choice was obvious but because of the betrayal of Carter by both political parties and the intelligence establishment an error was made that may in the end cost Americans their country. This year maybe Hillary may not be a good never mind a great President the choice is still obvious sometimes interesting times are not so great. Bush was not up to the task but we are still here.
Although I agree that Carter had a lot to teach us Gore's diplomacy and disregard for the less fortunate among us and his economic policies were contemptible.The choice of Joe Lieberman as a running mate was as inspired as that of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin. Although I am no great fan of the Clinton's, their half hearted support of Gore was justified. Two thousand was in my estimation the worse year we had for picking a President. I think 1980 the choice was obvious but because of the betrayal of Carter by both political parties and the intelligence establishment an error was made that may in the end cost Americans their country. This year maybe Hillary may not be a good never mind a great President the choice is still obvious sometimes interesting times are not so great. Bush was not up to the task but we are still here.
4
John Kerry would have been a far better president than Bush, but the damage was done when we invaded Iraq. It was already too late.
16