Crisis Averted for the Time Being

This Monday morning it is apparent that the U.S.-Russian deal, brokered over the weekend, to rid Syria of its chemical weapons is a huge defeat for the warhawks. Two stories limn the plaintive cries of the warmongers as they rail at the failure of Obama to launch a strike: Anne Barnard's "Deal Represents Turn for Syria; Rebels Deflated" and Peter Baker's "Brief Respite for President, but No Plan B on Syria." Here are two essential quotes from each. First, Peter Baker:

Most lawmakers on both sides of the aisle just want the issue to go away. Indeed, the White House recommended to lawmakers that they move on to other subjects. The White House itself pivoted its public message back to economic issues on Sunday. Mr. Obama and Congress face critical deadlines in the next few weeks to keep the government open and avert a default. 

The prolonged process of finalizing a disarmament plan and putting it into effect over the course of a year would take Syria off the front burner for a while and could give Mr. Obama an opportunity to avoid action altogether. Senior administration officials made the case last week that the process itself serves as a deterrent because Mr. Assad presumably would not use his chemical weapons in the interim.

This supports the analysis provided on the Moon of Alabama blog. Western backing for the Syrian opposition will be slowly, gradually unwound. Crisis averted.

The rebels can read the handwriting on the wall. Here is Anne Barnard:

Bashir Hajji, a field commander with Liwaa al-Tawheed, a rebel group affiliated with the loose-knit, Western-backed Free Syrian Army, said the agreement had strengthened the growing suspicion among rebels and “civilians who want salvation” that the United States, which has not substantially delivered on promises to strengthen their forces, actually aims to prolong Mr. Assad’s rule. 

“The international community is providing a new chance for Assad’s gangs to continue the criminal play in Syria,” he said.

Thanks to Russia's masterly move in providing Obama an avenue of escape from the warmongers in his own administration and the foreign policy establishment, a wider war has been avoided. To deescalate the crisis Russia took advantage of the overwhelming antiwar sentiment of the general populous that was effectively blocking Congress from granting Obama an Authorization for the Use of Military Force. Bush II had invaded Iraq despite huge antiwar rallies across the globe. The Russian diplomatic initiative was a necessary part of the solution. Leaders, for the most part, don't respect the people they govern.

So, for the time being, chalk up a win for democracy and the people.