Rohnert Park, CA
November 17, 2017
by Rich Scheck
Did Putin and Obama make a deal regarding Syria over the weekend
at the G-20 Summit in Turkey? It sure looks like it from here.
Reading the tea-leaves behind the headlines indicates that the
Russian position of international cooperation in the fight against
terrorism is being accepted.
As a trade-off, they are agreeing the Sinai crash was caused by
a bomb on-board the plane rather than the more likely scenario
of a missile attack—accidentally or on purpose—by NATO as
part of the simultaneous military drill a short distance away.
In return, we can expect sanctions to be eased as the post-Iran
nuke deal economic benefits start to kick in and the need to reduce
tensions over Ukraine and Syria becomes accepted.
The oil needs to flow, terrorism has to be reduced, economic activity has to increased and hope restored to a planet deeply wounded by the prospect of endless wars.
Otherwise it will be a very long and dangerous winter with the likelihood of immense suffering and possibly WWIII.
I was surprised to learn weeks ago that Putin had signed onto the Sustainability Goals of the upcoming Climate Summit in Paris.
And the Chinese efforts to make the yuan part of the IMF’s reserve
currency pool means they want to modify the current system rather
than replace the financial architecture established by Bretton Woods.
All this implies that at a key level, the Russians and the Chinese
remain part of the current world system and will continue to work
with their Western “partners” to achieve at least a modicum of peace.
This may be wishful thinking and pure speculation on my part. But it
is the holiday season and folks needs at least a glimmer of hope to
keep going during this dark period of history.
My deepest prayer is that I have guessed correctly and that we have
something positive to embrace as a new year will soon begin.
Putin: ISIS financed from 40 countries, including G20 members