John Kerry's a fan of Assad, and that may sink his nomination

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Kerry's words on Assad certain to draw scrutiny

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kerry has held up Syria as a country that could bring peace and stability to the Mideast and predicted that the now-disgraced government of President Bashar Assad would pursue a legitimate relationship with the United States. Those assertions are certain to draw scrutiny at Kerry's confirmation hearing to be secretary of state as Assad's brutal crackdown has plunged his country into civil war.

Conservative websites have mocked the relationship as a Kerry-Assad "bromance," seizing on comments the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman has made in speeches and during his six visits to Syria.

Kerry's observation came during an appearance before the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in which he spoke optimistically about the Syrian government and the United States making progress with Assad.

"President Assad has been very generous with me in terms of the discussions we have had," Kerry said. "And when I last went to — the last several trips to Syria — I asked President Assad to do certain things to build the relationship with the United States."

Kerry ticked off six requests for Assad, including purchasing land for a U.S. Embassy in Damascus and border assistance with Iraq, and said the Syrian president fulfilled all of them.

"So my judgment is Syria will move; Syria will change, as it embraces a legitimate relationship with the United States and the West and economic opportunity that comes with it and the participation comes with it," he said.

In April 2010, Kerry met with Assad in Damascus and described Syria as "an essential player in bringing peace and stability to the region."

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20130111/US.Kerry.Syria/

[james&olya 1,121]

It is the very essence of diplomacy to take whatever is positive with an international relationship and build on that in the hope of steering the relationship in a positive direction. It is all about shades of gray and certainly not the rigid black and white perspectives of the politically ignorant! John Kerry will make an excellent Secretary of State! And when the Syrian opposition does finally end Assad's rule we may find we are even worse off if the al Quaeda affiliated factions come to power there!

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Well... Donald Rumsfeld was buddies with Saddam Hussein, and that didn't keep him from getting his old job back as Secretary of Defense (where he got to do a 180 degree flipflop and go on the attack against Saddam instead.)

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Kerry should continue his bromance with Assad. Obama should encourage him to take many trips as a special envoy to Syria. The US could agree to only stop sending the overly verbose Senator, known for his monotone speaking style, when Assad steps down, or when he is bored to death.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Kerry will be confirmed. Same for Hagel. Everything else is just silly noise.