U.S., Russia reach agreement on Syria weapons
AP 6:58 a.m. EDT September 14, 2013


GENEVA (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday they have reached an agreement on a
framework for Syria to destroy all of its chemical weapons, and raised
the specter of a potential U.N. Security Council resolution that could
authorize sanctions — even military action — if President Bashar Assad's
government fails to comply.

The diplomats announced on the third day of intense negotiations in
Geneva that some elements of the deal include a timetable and how Syria
must comply. Notably, Kerry said they had agreed on grounds under which
they might request a Security Council "Chapter 7" resolution —
authorizing both military and non-military sanctions.

The U.S. and Russia are two of the five permanent Security Council
members with a veto. The others are Britain, China, and France.

Kerry said any violations will result in "measures" from the Security
Council, while Lavrov said the violations must be sent to the Security
Council from the board of the chemical weapons convention before
sanctions — short of the use of force — would be considered.

At a news conference at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, Kerry said
the inspectors must be on the ground by November and destruction or
removal of the chemical weapons must be completed by mid-2014.

"We have committed to a standard that says, verify and verify," he said.

Lavrov called the agreements a "decision based on consensus and
compromise and professionalism."

"Any violations of procedures ... would be looked at by the Security
Council and if they are approved, the Security Council would take the
required measures, concrete measures," Lavrov said. "Nothing is said
about the use of force or about any automatic sanctions. All violations
should be approved by the Security Council."

Kerry said the pair and their teams of experts had reached "a shared
assessment" of Syria's weapons stockpile and that Syria must destroy all
of its weapons.

The negotiations between the United States and Russia on securing
Syria's chemical weapons also are considered key to a resumption of
peace talks to end the 2 ½-year Syrian civil war.

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Hope it works...and that military action is not required. If a
Republican were in the White House, we'd be prepping for sending troops
into Guam.