Sure enough, it turns out that Mr. Putin had other ambitions. Once again, the Obama administration appears to have been blindsided by Mr. Putin, just as it was when Russia dispatched its forces to Syria in September. FOR MORE than a month, Secretary of State John F. Kerry has been pressing the regime of Vladi­mir Putin to accept what, for Moscow, would be a sweetheart deal on Syria. Each time, Moscow has disregarded the jawboning — and Mr. Kerry has responded not with consequences but with new appeals for cooperation and more U.S. concessions. Resolution 2254 for an agreement on a political transition in Syria, some of the heaviest fighting of the year was underway.

Source: Washington Post August 02, 2016 23:37 UTC