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September 05, 2013
Putin: We could support US-led airstrikes if you'd like umm...show us some convincing actual proof
President Putin has tried to avert a diplomatic stalemate between Russia and America at today’s G20 summit by hinting of a compromise on Western military intervention in Syria.
The Russian leader also made conciliatory remarks about the Kremlin’s relationship with the White House.
“If there is evidence that chemical weapons were used, and by the regular army, then this evidence must be presented to the UN Security Council and it must be convincing,” President Putin said in an interview with Associated Press.
Asked whether Russia would support US-led airstrikes, he added: "I do not exclude that."...
Asking for some actual proof doesn't seem like a crazypants lunatic request. All the US public has been given are administration assertions of the existence of some amorphous rumored proofs and a dearth of actual hard specifics. Given the past history of this administration and its less than sterling record of honesty, Putin's request seems eminently reasonable.
Is this a semi-cave, or a taunt? If Putin knows the truth, and he's certainly in a better position to know than we or the UN ever were, and that truth ran against Obama, then its a taunt calling him out to present lies as truth on the world stage, further burnishing his image as the world's village idiot.
If the truth favors Obama, Putin is offering a gracious opening to build actual consensus for strikes and Obama looks foolish to decline. Either way, well played Vlad. Well played.