Rapid Fire Sept. 10, 2013: Rhetorical Answer on Syria Becomes Tentative Policy Within Hours

• US Secretary of State John Kerry’s off-the-cuff remark – meant to be rhetorical – that Bashar al-Assad could still avoid strikes by “[turning] over every bit of his weapons to the international community within the next week” was taken as a serious offer by the regime and its Russian backers. Or at least, as a serious opportunity to stall. Either way, this seems enough of a lifeline for the Obama administration that Senate majority leader Harry Reid decided to postpone a vote on authorizing the use of force against Syria.