Kerry wants to talk with Assad, Gulf states fear USA’s lack of resolve

States of Gulf Cooperation Council in purple

Comments by United States Secretary of State related to talks with Syria’s President Assad is concerning several Arab Gulf states:

March 16, 2015

WASHINGTON—As the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said it is time to “reignite a diplomatic outcome” to a conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.

Kerry said an effort is underway to convince Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to “change his calculation” and enter into negotiations.

On Monday, Assad said he is awaiting “action” from Washington to match Kerry’s words.

“We are still hearing the declarations and we should wait for actions and then decide,” Assad was quoted by state-run Syrian media as saying to Iranian television.

Gulf states concerned

However, Kerry’s comments on Assad provoked alarm and dismay among commentators close to Gulf Arab governments opposed to his rule.

Saudi Arabia, the top oil exporter and main Arab ally of the United States, has long feared that the Obama administration lacks the resolve to tackle Assad and that it is instead focusing on a nuclear deal with the Syrian leader’s main supporter Iran, analysts said.

Although there was no immediate official comment from Riyadh, Saudi analysts with connections to the ruling family and conservative Sunni Muslim clerics quickly voiced concern about Kerry’s remarks.

“Bashar has no legitimacy after killing his people and driving 11 million out of their houses. How can you sit down and talk to him and keep him in power? It’s a big joke for us,” Abdulaziz al-Sager, head of the Gulf Research Center based in Jeddah and Geneva, told Reuters.

“We have to negotiate in the end,” Kerry said Sunday. “We’ve always been willing to negotiate in the context of the Geneva I process,” he added, referring to a 2012 conference that called for a negotiated transition to end the conflict.

However, France said it was sticking to its opposition to talks with Assad, saying these had to include Syrian opposition members and elements of the exiting regime — but not Assad — to pave the way to a unity government.

‘Unacceptable’

Other Gulf countries, which like Saudi Arabia have backed Syrian rebels against Assad, worried about Kerry’s remarks.

“The fact that Assad is still in the picture is something we have lived with and accepted as an interim arrangement. If Mr. Kerry was talking about this same interim arrangement — one year or two years until negotiations reach some fruit — we understand,” said Sami al-Faraj, a Kuwaiti adviser to the Gulf Cooperation Council that comprises Gulf Arab states.

“But if he means that even after negotiations Assad would stay on, that is unacceptable,” Faraj said.

Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said any transition cannot begin in Syria until Assad leave power. Faisal has also accused Assad of committing genocide against Syrians. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-prepared-to-negotiate-political-solution-with-syrian-regime/2681471.html

The conflict in Syria has been horrific and the Saudis and others are concerned that the USA will not do what it indicated in the past.

Which was?

To see to the elimination of the Assad regime in Syria.

The USA is, unintentionally, turning its closer allies in the region to look for more reliable allies. And many are looking towards Europe. The Bible tells of various deals involving the Arabs and Europeans (Psalm 83:3-8; Daniel 9:27; 11:27)–and these will not turn out well for the USA, its Anglo-Saxon allies, or the nation of Israel.

Ultimately, despite what various sides in the warring and sometimes non-warring factions want, the reality is that the Bible shows that Syria’s capital Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

Eventually, the Bible indicates that Syria will support the coming final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8) and a change in or from the Assad regime will be necessary for this to happen–and it will come to pass–irrespective of what the USA tries to do.

An Islamic confederation that will include the land of Syria is coming (Daniel 11:27,40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8). The USA will not fare well long after it does (Daniel 11:39).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
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The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
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When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
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Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
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