Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) said Russian president Vladimir Putin is badly out-maneuvering the Obama administration on Syria Wednesday on Glenn Beck's radio program.
In a Russian-brokered proposal now being considered by the United Nations, the White House and Congress would place Syria's chemical weapons under international control. It was an idea brought up and dismissed as highly unlikely by Secretary of State John Kerry, but President Obama said during his Tuesday address to the nation that the U.S. would work with Russia, China and American allies to try to force Syria to hand over its weapons.
"I think if this were a tennis match, it would be the umpire shouting, ‘Advantage Putin!’" Paul said. "He seems to be running circles around this administration."
Paul said there was a question of sincerity to the idea, given Russia and Bashar al-Assad's alliance and their antagonism toward the United States.
"If it is sincere and true, and there's a way that we can get the chemical weapons out of Syria, by all means, I'll be the first to acknowledge and give the president credit," Paul said. "But really, it appears as if they backed into this through some sort of lucky happenstance. I hope it's going to be true and sincere, and I don't dismiss it, to tell you the truth, because I do want an outcome where the chemical weapons aren't a threat to Israel, aren't a threat to Turkey or Jordan."
[H/T Politico]