Assad is not going to negotiate - a diplomatic solution is impossible

Shahine and Baltaji 8/5 (Dana El Baltaji & Alaa Shahine, a reporter for Bloomberg News in Dubai and a reporter for Bloomberg News in Dubai, 8/5/2013, Assad Says Syria Crisis Will Be Resolved on the Battlefield, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-05/assad-says-syria-scrisis-will-be-resolved-on-the-battlefield.html) //TC Syrias President Bashar al-Assad said the nations two-year civil war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives can only be decided on the battlefield. All routes have been tried and there is only one option left, which is to defend ourselves and our country with our own hands, and in this case everybody looks naturally to the armed forces, Assad said yesterday at a banquet with social and political figures, according to
official news agency Sana. Soldiers of the Syrian government forces patrol a street in Homs. Photographer: Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images It will be decided on the field, Assad said. While

a parallel political course is possible, the government wont see any negotiations as justification to stop combating terrorism. Assads government says the opposition is led by Islamist extremists, while the rebels say theyre fighting to oust a dictator. Syrias civil
war, which began with peaceful protests in March 2011, has engulfed the nation and brought economic growth to a halt. Both the opposition and Assad have accused each other of targeting civilians and using chemical weapons. The U.S., which is backing the rebels, and

Assad ally Russia have so far failed to bring the sides together for talks. Syrian rebels today clashed with

government troops in the western province of Latakia, home to members of Assads minority Alawite sect, which has largely bee n spared the violence that has devastated other parts of Syria. The rebels used locally made rockets to target troops in Nabi Younes, the Syrian Observatory for

Human Rights said in an e-mail today. Currency Hit The war, coupled with international sanctions against Syria, sent the nations
currency on a downward spiral. The Syrian pound depreciated to a record 300 pounds to the dollar on the black market in early July from 47 pounds to the dollar before the crisis began. The central bank intervened last month and announced it would give dollars and euros to licensed exchanges at least twice a week, the Economist Intelligence Unit said in a July 24 report. Syria also signed a $3.6 billion credit line accord with Iran last month. Assad issued a decree yesterday banning the use of all foreign currencies, according to a statement on state-run Sana. Violators may face as long as three years in prison. The decree is meant to prevent the dollarization of the economy, Central Bank Governor Adib Mayala said in a statement to Sana. Economic Hardship The

economic hardship that we are all suffering from, the deteriorating services and the daily issues that we as Syrians suffer from, are all linked to the security situation, and the only solution is to strike against terrorism, Assad said
yesterday. Assad said Aug. 1 that he was confident he will win the war. The central bank sold enough foreign currency at an auction today to cover demand until next week, Mayala said, according to Sana. The auction sold the pound at 173.27 to the dollar on the basis it will be sold at 175 pounds to the dollar, Mayala said. He said exchange companies can submit foreign currency purchase requests in case of increasing demand and the Central Bank will always be ready to meet it, Sana said.

Kerry cant solve Syrias crisis only Robert Ford can

Gordon 8/5/13 (Michael R Gordon, the chief military correspondent for The New York Times , Former Envoy to Syria Said to Be Choice for Cairo Post, 8/5/13, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/05/world/middleeast/kerry-picks-former-syria-envoy-asambassador-to-egypt.html?_r=0)//T.C.
Secretary of State John Kerry has recommended that Robert S. Ford serve as the next American ambassador to Egypt, American officials said Sunday, a critical role at a time of rising turmoil and anti-Americanism in the traditional Arab ally. Mr. Ford, a longtime Middle

East hand and fluent Arabic speaker, is well known for taking an active role as ambassador to Syria in challenging President Bashar al-Assads crackdown before American diplomats were pulled out of the country for their own safety. With Egypt in a state of political upheaval, the ambassadorial pick for
Cairo has emerged as one of the most important diplomatic assignments for President Obama, who made a warmly received policy speech to the Islamic world in Cairo in June 2009. But four years later, the Obama administrations influence has substantially waned, and Egypts bitter rivals the secular liberals and the supporters of Mohamed Morsi, the ousted president have each accused Washington of undermining their cause. The next American ambassador has the difficult task of repairing the United States

image, expanding its influence and working with opposing groups inside the country, as well as diplomats from Arab and European nations, to try to stabilize Egypt and put it on a democratic course. Mr. Ford could not be reached, and the State Department declined to comment on Mr. Kerrys recommendation. As with all
ambassadorial appointments, the recommendation needs to be approved by Mr. Obama. Mr. Ford, whose likely nomination for the Cairo post was reported last week by the online publication Al-Monitor, has also served as ambassador to Algeria and did multiple tours in Iraq, including one as a representative of the American occupation authority in Najaf, where he was briefly detained at gunpoint in 2003 by the Badr

Corps militia. He also participated in the strategy review that Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker oversaw in Baghdad on how to carry out the military surge in 2007. Mr. Ford served in the economic section of the American Embassy in Cairo from 1988 to 1991 and studied Arabic in the country in the early 1980s. Most Americans are likely to know of him from his time in

Syria. His nomination to serve as the chief American envoy in Damascus was initially held up by senators who were opposed to the policy of filling the vacant ambassador post in Mr. Assads Syria because of Syrias meddling in Lebanon. Mr. Obama used a recess appointment to install him. As opposition built to Mr. Assad, Ambassador Ford visited the restive city of Hama in July 2011 and attended a funeral for a slain activist. He was a sharp critic of the Assad governments repression and used the embassys Web site to present his version of events. But he also urged that demonstrations be peaceful. In September 2011, a pro-government mob tried to break down the door
arrived and Mr. Ford was able to return to the embassy. The next month, Mr. Ford was recalled threats to his safety. He

when Mr. Ford went to a meeting with Hassan Abdel-Azim, an opposition figure in Damascus. An American Embassy security detail was sent to the scene, but two of the vehicles were attacked with iron bars and concrete blocks and destroyed. After four hours, the Syrian police finally

to the United States because of

returned to Damascus in December, but in February 2012, as the security situation in Syria sharply deteriorated, the American Embassy was closed. He later became the chief American envoy to the Syrian opposition, a position he still holds. The Cairo post has been a difficult
one to fill, in part because of confusion in Egypt about American policy. Anne W. Patterson, who served since 2011 as the American ambassador in Cairo and was recently nominated for a senior State Department post, became a lightning rod for both sides and was assailed as a defender of the status quo by critics of Mr. Morsi before his ouster. Part of the problem Anne Patterson faced was a vacuum in policy, said Vali Nasr, the dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. If she went and met with th e Muslim Brotherhood, it was construed that she was pro-Brotherhood. If she met with the military, the Brotherhood thought she was giving a green light to a coup. With long experience in the region, including in a country that has been convulsed by the Arab Spring, Mr. Ford would bring considerable background to the job. But Mr. Nasr said that Mr. Ford would face the same dilemma unless the Obama administration were engaged and more explicit about its aims. On Thursday, the White House nominated Ms. Patterson to serve as the assistant secretary of state in the State Departments Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, which oversees the Middle East. Her appointment and that of Mr. Ford, if he is nominated by Mr. Obama as expected, are subject to Senate confirmation. No major opposition was expected.

Pakistan thumps the DA Kerry is focused on Pakistan

Samad 8/3/13 (Omar Samad, Senior Central Asia Fellow at New America Foundation, President of Silkroad Consulting, and former Afghan ambassador to France and Canada, John Kerrys Message to Pakistan, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/03/john-kerry-s-messageto-pakistan.html)//TC Secretary of State John Kerry had several important messages to deliver to Pakistani leaders this week
in Islamabad, but one stood out in terms of its strategic significance: The U.S. is not leaving Afghanistan any time soon. He expressed strong confidence that a security agreement will soon be signed with Kabul allowing a residual U.S. (and NATO) force to stay on after 2014. John Kerry speaks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad on August 1. (Aamir

Qureshi/AFP/Getty) That was not what Taliban backers and radical militants wanted to hear.
With the U.S. clarifying its Afghanistan position, Pakistans military establishment and the new civilian government now have a unique opportunity to revisit and adjust their longstanding policy toward their beleaguered Western neighbor. By doing so, Pakistan can break with pass policies of strategic

tolerance of militant sanctuaries and support networks on their soil, push reconcilable Taliban toward meaningful talks, reduce the threat of militancy within its own borders, engage in an open and forward-looking dialogue to address border and water issues, and focus on cooperation and regional economic integration at a time when economic prospects are dim and millions of dissatisfied people are on the verge of despair. For that to happen, now is the time for President Obama to spell out the post-2014 U.S. commitment in terms of troop numbers and effective assistance to help Afghans stand on their own, safely undergo a complex transition period, be assured of long-term international assistance, and eventually reach a just peace accord with reconcilable armed militantsif there are any to be found. The latest Pentagon estimate that Afghan
forces will need U.S. assistance for several more years after the end of the current mission is a clear

indicator of job-not-done. Leaving behind a fragile and unstable Afghanistan serves no strategic or clever purpose. In Afghanistan, now is the time for President Karzai to visit Pakistan one more time

(date expected to be announced soon) with a coherent policy that can garner the backing of the Afghan people, can provide the Pakistanis with a clear vision for peace and good-neighborliness, and is not tied to short-term political advantage. He needs to think long and beyond the next Afghan elections scheduled for April 2014. Leaving behind a fragile and unstable Afghanistan serves no strategic or clever purpose. Since a Loya Jirga convened in 2011 has already agreed to a U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership framework, Karzai should engage in high-level political consultations at home and allow the Afghan parliament to legitimize the bilateral security agreement with the U.S. instead of taking the route of a second controversial Loya Jirga as he has indicated. Both the U.S. and Afghan governments would also be better served if they adopted a more constructive and trusting working relationship over the critical year ahead. As far as the Taliban are concerned, this is the time for their mystery-shrouded pro-reconciliation lobby to prove its credentials, speak up, and push for a change in tactics within the movement. That means stop the killing frenzy. Afghans will not agree to reconcile with cold-blooded murderers, unless they can prove otherwise. The latest United Nations figures show a staggering increase of 23 percent in civilian losses over the past six months. What is more troubling is that more than 75 percent of deaths are caused by Taliban/militant attacks. If they are unable to convince the hardliners in their midst to stop killing innocent fellow Muslims, then it is their Islamic duty to walk away or fight them to prove to other Afghans that there really is a faction preferring peace talks over continued conflict. This lobby cannot continue to have their cake and eat it too. Concerning the hardcore wing of the militancy, they will continue to fight, kill and destroy. They will fight Western interests opportunistically, send men to other combat zones, including Syria, and increasingly engage in sectarian strife. They are organic allies of al Qaeda, Central Asian jihadists and other like-minded terrorist groups. If the Afghan and Pakistani governments can break the ice, aim for genuine rapprochement, and build up mutual trust based on a paradigm shift in Islamabad and a balanced approach by Kabul, then they could join hands in fighting these elements on both sides of the border and in return receive generous international assistance. But if the game is to let the war linger for some Machiavellian reason, be tempted to use Sunni radicals against Shia extremists in the region, aim for a zero-sum outcome and risk stability in South-Central Asia for many years to come, then we might end up with a lose-lose scenario. Secretary Kerrys message to his friends in Pakistan has resonance across the region and
beyond. The ball is squarely in the Pakistani court, and now is the time to engage in deep strategic soulsearching and reconfiguration. Much is at stake for the sake of peace, justice and prosperity in that part of the world.

There is no internal link Kerry can focus on multiple issues at once and be super effective Burns 7/31/13 (Nicholas Burns, a professor of the practice of diplomacy and international
politics at Harvards Kennedy School of Government, John Kerrys six-month report card, http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2013/07/31/john-kerry-six-month-reportcard/F5CBhgRDlXEaQxQUeyvPtI/story.html) Until a few weeks ago, a small army of critics and armchair quarterbacks took aim at Secretary of State John Kerrys first months in office in roughly similar fashion too much globe-trotting, too many meetings, and too singular a focus on the lost cause of diplomacy the 65-year

search for an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Kerry thus deserves more than a little credit with this weeks resumption in Washington of the first meaningful talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority since 2008. It is a significant achievement, and it is largely his own. It is
also indicative of how Kerry does business with persistence, drive, energy, secrecy, and attention to detail, all at warp speed. Kerry is putting diplomacy back on the map. He has embraced his role as Americas top diplomat and is reasserting Americas primacy in the two pivotal regions for US security the Middle East and Asia. American secretaries of state are expected by the rest of the world to lead on the toughest issues as combination referee, dealmaker, and frequent flyer. Kerry has played those roles confidently since taking office in January. He is also following former Secretary of State George Shultzs advice to tend the

diplomatic garden. In other words, it is important to show up in a distant capital with no immediate crisis to overcome. Demonstrating interest and respect and deepening personal
connections with global leaders makes it more likely theyll see things our way when we need them, as we invariably will. Kerry did not set out to break Hillary Clintons mileage record, but that may become one measure of his ultimate success. In just six months, Kerry has delivered progress on some of Americas most important priorities. The Middle East talks are significant. If Kerry and his capable new envoy, Martin Indyk, can generate momentum on borders, Jerusalem, and settlements, it may create the best opportunity for progress since President Clintons 2000 Camp David talks. It is a long way from peace but a situation no one would have predicted even a month ago. He is reasserting Americas primacy in the two pivotal regions for US security the Middle East and Asia. Further East, Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden, both recent visitors to New Delhi, have begun to revive a major aim of President George W. Bush a strategic partnership with India in troubled South Asia. And, on North Korea, Kerry worked quietly and effectively with Beijing last March to contain Pyongyangs erratic and unpredictable young leader, Kim Jung Un. After Iraq and Afghanistan, Kerry is right to return diplomacy to the front ranks of US strategy. Critics impatient with Kerrys six trips to the Middle East would do well to remember the time it took to create some of the most significant recent American diplomatic successes. Henry Kissinger spent well more than a year in executing his brilliant

opening to China. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, James Baker worked nonstop for 10 months to achieve Germanys stunning unification in NATO. And the Clinton administration required nearly three years to get Bosnia right before Richard Holbrooke brokered his masterful peace at Dayton. The point is that diplomacy takes time. The veteran negotiator George Mitchell framed it best by reminding his own critics that, in Northern Ireland, he had 700 days of failure and one day of success the day he reached the Good Friday Agreement for peace. Kerry has many
more mountains to climb as secretary of state. The Iran nuclear challenge will return to the front burner following this weeks inauguration of President Hassan Rowhani. Kerry needs to decide

whether he should take the lead in the first American direct negotiations with Tehran in decades.
Reaching a compromise deal with Iran will require the same unyielding personal commitment he has given to Israeli-Palestinian peace. But it is the best way to avoid a military conflict in 2014. In addition, Kerry will need to push Congress toward a more effective US position on climate change. And, Kerry has an opening to strengthen our alliance with a resurgent Japan and maintain Americas predominance in Asia. Can he find a way, at the same time, to work effectively with China? The challenges never go away. But Kerry is building in his first six months on the job a promising record of accomplishment in Foggy Bottom.

Kerry says the US can focus on multiple issues without losing DC

Globalpost 6/29/13 (an online US news company that focuses on international news founded on January 12, 2009 by Charles M. Sennott and Philip S. Balboni.Their stated goal is "to redefine international news for the digital age."GlobalPost has 65 correspondents worldwide. GlobalPost

offers daily, in-depth perspective on the changing global picture by combining traditional journalistic values and the power of new media.While the articles are intended for an American audience, the website is available to all English-reading audiences world wide, Kerry, on Mideast tour, to confront doubts in Asia, http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130629/kerry-mideast-tour-confront-doubtsasia, T.C.)
Secretary of State John

Kerry heads to talks in Asia trying to quash fears that the vaunted US refocus on the region is not serious as he puts a personal priority on peace in the Middle East. Kerry plans to attend Southeast Asian talks in Brunei from Monday, which has become his unofficial deadline to wrap up his latest Middle East trip in which he is shuttling between Israeli and Palestinian leaders to revive peace talks. Even in Brunei, his focus will not be solely on Asia as he is expected to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on tensions over the Syria war and the mysterious presence in Moscow of US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden. Kerry has visited the Middle
East five times in as many months. His second trip to Asia since taking office in February -- he earlier went to China, Japan and South Korea -- is again part of a larger tour. Kerry dismissed suggestions he was uninterested in Asia, saying that he planned to

travel "shortly" to Indonesia and Vietnam and believed in President Barack Obama's so-called "pivot" of putting more of a focus on Asia. Kerry said that the United States has always been capable of "dealing with more than one crisis in more than one part of the planet at the same time". "People should not think that, because we are trying to bring peace to an area that has been struggling for 30 years now under the yoke of conflict and dissension, that that means we can't also pay attention to these other issues," Kerry told Voice of America during his latest trip. Diplomats and some analysts have voiced concern that the United States is shifting back to
older priorities after the departure of Kerry's predecessor Hillary Clinton, who prided herself on paying attention to Asia. Clinton sought to develop a broader relationship with a rising China and spearheaded US outreach to Myanmar, which has surprised even many critics by embracing democratic reforms in the past three years. Clinton was the first secretary of state to visit all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with her aides arguing that the previous administration of George W. Bush neglected the economically dynamic and mostly US-friendly bloc due to preoccupation with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. A senior US official acknowledged that Asian nations voiced doubts about the Asia commitment as Clinton left. But he said that at a substantive rather than symbolic level, the United States is stepping up spending on its Asia projects at a time of belt-tightening. The official noted that Obama has welcomed to Washington in recent months the leaders of Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brunei and -- for the first time in half a century -- Myanmar. Asian nations that were concerned a few months ago were now asking "more of what we bring to the table than whether we are at the table," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Some observers said it was natural that a new secretary of state would try to be different. Kerry may face fewer risks in

delving into the Middle East as, unlike fellow former presidential candidate Clinton, he is virtually certain not to entertain future political ambitions. Walter Lohman, a Southeast Asia specialist at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think-tank, said that Asian nations ranked the Obama administration well for engagement but knew that the Middle East "has a way of dominating Americans' attention". "There is some wariness of whether Asia is a priority for Kerry or whether he is going to try to make his personal mark elsewhere -- the Middle East or Europe," Lohman said. Ernie Bower of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said that Southeast Asian nations largely
welcomed Kerry's visit on his current tour to India, which has been seeking a bigger role in the region as China rises. But Bower voiced particular concern about the delay of a visit to Indonesia, which Obama and Clinton identified as a priority due to its rapid transition to democracy and moderate form of Islam. ASEAN nations expect some shift with the departure of Clinton and White House national security adviser Tom Donilon, who focused heavily on China, but largely believe that Obama is committed to the region, Bower said. "Their analysis is that the chief desk officer for Asia is now President Barack Obama," Bower said. "The good news is that you want the boss engaged. The bad news is that the bandwidth of the president of the United States, almost by definition, is going to be sporadic," he said.