This Pod Cast deals with the fact that the solution the West is pushing for today was put on the table by Syria and Russia in 2012 when Syrians approved a new Constitution which calls for multi-party elections. At the time, the West, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar thought they could overthrow the Syrian government. Now that they have to admit defeat, and while they still threten to attack Syria, they are trying to save one of the last Jihadi bastions so they have some cards to play at the negotiating table.
I am including the script below:
Emmanuel Macrons says Europe can no longer rely on the US for its security. He is calling for a European defense initiative which could sideline Nato and has begun bilateral talks with potentially willing EU members. He is even ready to discuss a separate security partnership with Russia. But so far the response is cautious. Europe does not seem ready for France to lead another Grande Armée.
