Will John Kerry Make a Difference for the Syrian People?

In a joint news conference appearance on Saturday, Iran and Syria condemned a new American plan to provide $60 million in aid to assist rebels fighting to defeat President Bashar al-Assad, saying the Syrian leader intends to stay in power at least until the 2014 Syrian presidential election. The commentary came as a strategic military victory for the regime allowed al-Assad to regain control over a string of villages along a key highway that could open a supply route in Syria's heavily contested north. Damascus has announced that regime forces had eradicated the remnants of "terrorist agents and mercenaries" in the area that links the regime-controlled central city of Hama with Aleppo's international airport. The US announcement by new Secretary of State John Kerry came as a surprise because America and the international community hesitate to send weapons to the rebels out of fear they may fall into the hands of extremists who are gaining influence among the rebels. But Secretary Kerry announced on Thursday that the Obama administration would, for the first time, provide non-lethal aid directly to the rebels. Syrian Secretary of State Walid al-Moallem and his Iranian counterpart, Ali Akbar Salehi, accused Washington of having double standards and warned it will only delay an end to the civil war. They also set clear parameters for any future talks with the opposition, saying that whether Assad stays or goes will be decided in presidential elections scheduled for next year. Salehi went further, suggesting that al-Assad may run for another term, saying that individuals have the freedom to run as candidates. Until that time, "Assad is Syria's president," Salehi said at the news conference in Tehran. Al-Moallem said the Syrian people have the right to choose their leaders through the ballot box. He also accused Turkey and Qatar and other unnamed countries of supporting and funding "armed terrorist groups" operating in Syria, using the regime's terminology for the rebels. Both countries have strongly supported the rebels and have offered logistical and other assistance to Syrian opposition groups. ~~~~~ Dear readers, can we hope that US President Obama has finally decided to assume his rightful position at the head of the international community of Syrian rebel supporters? If so, the Russian-Iranian tandem that has been trying to lead the world toward a permanent acceptance of the al-Assad regime may have ceased to matter. And, if this is true, can we also imagine that the turnaround is the work of John Kerry? As Senator, he was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry has, it must be said, much more foreign relations experience than his predecessor as US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Perhaps because of this, his real influence with the President is greater and his vision of how to proceed in Syria more practical. We can hope so - for the sake of all Syrians.