Opinions

Russian President Putin should be given credit for weapons deal

It’s finally over. Well, it isn’t really.

Late Friday night, the five members of the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution that allowed for the complete chemical de-armament of Syria, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Beginning next week, international officials will travel to Syria and visit the country’s chemical weapons stockpiles. The complete chemical de-armament of Syria should be completed sometime next year, according to the LA Times.

The move, seen by many as a diplomatic victory, has stirred debate about who should be given credit for brokering the weapons deal.

Without any shadow of a doubt, Russian President Vladimir Putin should be given most, if not all, of the credit.

Putin’s desire for peace helped avoid what could have easily been an international conflict.

Earlier this month, President Barack Obama chose to consult Congress before authorizing a military strike on Syria for its chemical weapons use.

His military plan was both vague and unpopular, leaving many in Congress to express disapproval.

“War should occur only when America is attacked, when it is threatened or when American interests are attacked or threatened,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ken.) told TIME magazine. “I don’t think the situation in Syria passes that test.”

After Congress debated the use of force in Syria, Putin stepped out and offered what many thought was a too-good-to-be-true solution to the Syrian conflict.

According to the BBC, Putin proposed a plan in early September that allowed Syria to give up its chemical weapons arsenal.

Following Putin’s move, Obama delayed the Congressional debate on Syria in hopes of achieving a diplomatic solution.

In addition to proposing a sound de-armament plan, Putin wrote a glowing editorial in the New York Times called, “A Plea for Caution from Russia.”

In it, Putin wrote that “it is extremely dangerous to encourage people [Americans] to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. We are all different … we must not forget that God created us equal.”

Putin later said in his editorial that the use of force should be avoided in Syria.

He was right.

Friday’s diplomatic solution proved that Putin is deserving of credit for saving Syria from an international conflict.

Obama, in his latest political setback, proved that he is both inadequate and unpredictable when it comes to resolving global affairs.

In one fell swoop, Putin showed that the pen is mightier than the sword. Instead of wavering like his American counterpart, Putin stood firm to his belief of peace and saw it through, whatever the cost.

Regardless of this weapons breakthrough, however, the Syrian civil war will likely continue to worsen.

Forcing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up his chemical weapons may reduce the inhumanity of certain killings, though the act of killing one’s figurative brother will go on and on.

The grievances between Assad and the rebels have not yet been resolved. A true and lasting peace is needed for the country.

The world should breath a sigh of relief, though. After all, a military strike was avoided, and one of the most politically embroiled presidents in the world, Assad, has been forced to give up his chemical weapons cache.

After all, Mother Russia is deserving of more recognition than Uncle Sam.

Shane Newell is a junior journalism major and the opinions editor at the Daily 49er.

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