Monday October 26, 2015

I've Been Thinking:

The RIA News Agency in Russia has reported that President Assad is willing and ready to stand for elections and to making changes to the country's constitution after things calm down in Syria and order is restored.

Part of the Russian / Syrian deal, in which Russia came to save Syria and Assad from ISIS and al Qaeda, was exactly this - having Assad agree in principle to stepping down as president and holding elections.

Assad of course believes that he will win an election when the time comes and he is probably correct. Some observers of the Russia / Syria collaboration assumed that new elections meant that Assad would step down and not run. That is clearly not the case.

Russia knows that they need Assad in place for now if for no other reason than to keep Syrians untied against ISIS and al Qaeda.

The heartening news is that a plan is in place and everyone involved is on board.

The Russian leader was quoted in the article as saying "Assad said that if the Syrian people consider it necessary, he would not be against taking part in presidential elections."

In that part of the world that is not hedging, it is a declaration of intent.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com