KSA’s timely move to resolve Syrian crisis

The issue with Syria, for the Kingdom as for all other Arab countries aghast at this tragedy, has always been the choices made by America.
Stunned by its failure in Iraq, Washington ignored the advice of allies including Saudi Arabia. An early intervention, at the very least, a no-fly zone, could have been decisive in ending the slaughter and the Bashar Assad government.
Instead for over four years, the Obama administration has dithered. The result is that the Kremlin is now running rings around the White House in Syria. From its own point of view Moscow has scored a whole series of victories that have kept the Assad government in place.
In August 2012, Barack Obama warned that if Assad once more used chemical weapons, he would have crossed a red line. A year later some 400 people in a rebel-held district of Damascus were murdered and more than 3,000 seriously affected by nerve gas-filled shells.
The tragedy was that the US president never spelled out what lay on the other side of that red line. When asked about the US taking unilateral military action, he said it would need a UN mandate. He knew full well that Russia and China would block any long-overdue US aerial assault on the Syrian government.
Then, in a move, the Russians offered to “persuade” Assad to get rid of his chemical arsenal. The operation clearly missed significant quantities of Assad’s horrific weapons. Daesh terrorists later captured some and have used them in fighting against the Kurds.
But Washington snapped up the offer. Putin was able to play the effective statesman. By contrast Obama has presented himself as a tough talker unprepared to back his words with action.
Now Russia is actively involved in the fighting. Ostensibly it is joining the Americans and other members of the international coalition launching airstrikes against the Daesh terrorists. In reality, despite the odd raid on terrorist positions, it is said to be focusing it on Free Syria Army forces. These airstrikes are clearly coordinated with government forces. The result is that Assad’s troops are already starting to make gains.
The Russians have suggested coordinating their airstrikes with the coalition. The Americans seem only prepared to talking to them about avoiding in-flight collisions between fast jets. Russia maintains it is attacking Daesh and other terrorists. The Kingdom has also been fighting terrorists on its soil and is willing to join forces with others to destroy terror outfits. It is in this context that Riyadh is willing to work jointly with Moscow to eradicate terrorists, but at the same time it has made it very clear that Assad should be removed. The key is that Russia should be seeking to end the Syrian tragedy in a way that ensures peace in that country.
That is why the meeting recently between Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Vladimir Putin in the Russian Winter Olympic resort of Sochi was so important. Even though the Kingdom has been critical of his role in sustaining the Assad government, Putin insisted that the relationship remained good. Both sides, he said, respected each other's differences.
The clear concern is that Russia must stick to its commitment to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. It has reportedly accepted there could be a settlement that does not include Assad.
Saudi Arabia has the authority and standing to represent the views of the whole region on the future of Syria and the regional position of Iran.
The Sochi encounter between the deputy crown prince and Putin was a clear demonstration that Saudi Arabia does not go in for gesture politics. Russia needs to continue to be engaged as part of the solution to the horrors of Syria. If Washington and its allies turn their backs on Moscow, it will become a formidable part of the problem.
Moscow, however, should know that the Kingdom's position on Assad has not changed. Riyadh still considers that Assad, who has killed hundreds of thousands of his own people, displaced millions and destroyed the country as a whole has no place in Syria.
Saudi Arabia is committed to a political solution in Syria based on the principles of Geneva I that would lead to the removal of Assad. The Kingdom is willing to tackle challenges in the region and fight terrorism jointly with Russia and the high-profile visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman testifies to that.