Syrian war

Washington and Moscow: Together on Syria?

Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States and Russia have agreed to steps that, “if implemented in good faith” could successfully address two problems killing the prospects for peace in Syria: the “continued indiscriminate attacks” of the Assad regime on civilian populations; and the ongoing presence of “Jebhat al-Nusrah, the al-Qaida branch in Syria.”

Good faith implementation is everything. And the absence of an American “or else” does not increase its prospects.

Kerry is trying to play diplomatic judo to make Moscow act consistent with its words. Russia intervened militarily in Syria with the pretense of fighting terrorism. Yet instead of focusing its firepower on Daesh (ISIS, ISIL, Islamic State) or the Nusrah Front, it has mainly targeted non-jihadist rebels.