US, Russia agree to peace council on Syria

The goal of the council will be to set the parameters for a peaceful end to President Bashar Assad’s rule and hand over power to a transitional, coalition government. 

{mosads}Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to the council during meetings held in Moscow between the two top diplomats, according to Reuters. 

“The alternative . . . is that there is even more violence. The alternative is that Syria heads closer to an abyss, if not over the abyss and into chaos,” Kerry told a joint news conference with Lavrov in Moscow. 

The move represents a step back by Russia from its previous support for Assad and his forces. 

Russia, along with Iran, have been the biggest international supporters of the Assad regime since the war began in 2011. 

Moscow has funneled military personnel and equipment into the country via its naval port in Tartus since the early days of the now three-year conflict. 

Rebel forces and government troops loyal to Assad have battled to a bloody stalemate, as the United States continues to grapple with taking military action in Syria to end the war. 

Recent claims of chemical weapon use by Assad forces has only ratcheted up the pressure on the Obama administration to take action. 

On Tuesday, Obama said the United States has a “moral obligation” to end the Syrian civil war, but remained wary about reports of chemical weapon use in the country. 

“My job is to constantly measure our very real and legitimate humanitarian and national security interests in Syria, but measuring those against my bottom line, which is what is the best interest of America’s security,” Obama said at the White House.

Defense Department leaders are moving forward with “planning initiatives” in Jordan, Turkey and Israel in an attempt to contain the situation in Syria.

“We have been clear-eyed … about the risks of outside intervention” in Syria, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Monday, adding the ongoing conflict is “one of the most complex crises of the last generation.”