Epstein Secrets

last week of new steps to enforce existing sanctions. Iranian concern was eased, Zarif said, after his contacts last week with Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the chief European Union negotiator, Lady Catherine Ashton. "What I have heard from Secretary Kerry and

ohn Kerry, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the chief European Union negotiator, Lady Catherine Ashton. "What I have heard from Secretary Kerry and Lady Ashton is that they are committed to an early finalization of the Geneva process with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement. I shar

, Lady Catherine Ashton. "What I have heard from Secretary Kerry and Lady Ashton is that they are committed to an

re workable. We have discussed this with various friends; we've discussed this with Turkey, we've discussed this with [U.N. Special Representative] Lakhdar Brahimi, we've discussed this with the Syrian government. Have you talked with the United States about this? We have not had any discussions with the U.S.

ndorsement, many around the world have interpreted Obama's move as a failure of will rather than keen democratic scruples. Both Secretary of State John F. Kerry (explicitly) and Obama (implicitly) have mentioned Israel and Iran in arguing in favor of a strike: Kerry refers to America's "credibility" with it

scruples. Both Secretary of State John F. Kerry (explicitly) and Obama (implicitly) have mentioned Israel and Iran in arguing in favor of a strike: Kerry refers to America's "credibility" with its allies and enemies; the president talked of the need to confront a "world of many dangers." But Obama's

in and over Syria. On the face of things, there are few grounds for optimism. Absurdly, Syria is not even formally on the agenda in St Petersburg. Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN and Arab League envoy for Syria, is apparently not even due to attend the meeting. Add to EFTA00678425 that Russia's generally obstructio

Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has privately and publicly lobbied Western and Arab countries to allow Iran into the Geneva process. While Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Tehran could play some role in settling the Syria crisis, it is unrealistic to expect Iran's leaders to be a positive force when the

he Geneva process. While Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Tehran could play some role in set

tlement. Whatever the case, the attempt to include Iran in the talks should come as no surprise -- for months, UN Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has privately and publicly lobbied Western and Arab countries to allow Iran into the Geneva process. While Secretary of State John Kerry has said t

ople must starve until, possibly, a caravan of options arrives. "He has asked all of us to think about various options that may or may not exist," John Kerry said while in Beijing. One can only imagine the profound effect this has had in Damascus, where Assad's inner circle must be spending sleepless nig

and political support to President Bashar al-Assad. "They're, in fact, enabling Assad to double down, which is creating an enormous problem," Mr. Kerry said in Jakarta, Indonesia, before he flew EFTA00684588 here to confer with top officials of the United Arab Emirates, a gulf state that has been

st be giggling. Options that "may not exist" has the sound of Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion in the "Wizard of Oz": "Put 'em up. Put ' em up." For Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations mediator for Syria, this may come too late. He has failed to end the civil war if only because Assad won't. (Assad even seized

bama, with some back and forth, delivered. But the price was high and opportunities lost. "The Dispensable Nation" constitutes important reading as John Kerry moves into his new job as secretary of state. It nails the drift away from the art of diplomacy — with its painful give-and- take — toward a U.S. fo

s by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to the Middle East, there are renewed hopes for

ome a fig leaf to hide inaction. Over the past two years, numerous diplomatic efforts have been made, including two missions led by Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi, two diplomats of the highest standing. Thanks to inside knowledge, we can report that Brahimi has offered the fairest and the most realistic comp