Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gets to stay in power — and keep his chemical weapons for a year — under a Russian-sponsored deal that critics slammed as undermining American leverage in the Mideast.
Under the pact reached Saturday by Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Assad must submit an inventory of his chemical arsenal this week but has until mid-2014 to dispose of it.
Kerry said the first inspection of Syrian weapons will be in November and destruction will begin sometime next year.
The UN Security Council is expected to back the deal with a resolution that could bring sanctions if Syria fails to comply.
While the White House hailed the agreement, some lawmakers assailed it as the latest fumble by the Obama administration in its handling of the Syrian crisis.
Arizona Sen. John McCain and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that America’s enemies will see the deal as “an act of provocative weakness” that could spur Iran to continue pushing for nuclear weapons.
Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican and ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the Obama administration must reinforce its support for rebel forces and reassure US allies that America can counter threats from Iran and other nations.
“The administration’s handling of this crisis has hurt US credibility, so it’s vital that going forward, the president articulate how his actions protect our national interests in Syria and the region,” Corker said.
In his weekly address, President Obama said America has made it clear the deal “can’t be a stalling tactic.”
“We are not just going to take Russia and Assad’s word for it,” Obama said. “If diplomacy fails, the United States and the international community must remain prepared to act.”
On Tuesday, Obama in a TV address made the case for a military strike in response to the Aug. 21 chemical-weapons attack that killed 1,400, including more than 400 children.
Unable to get congressional support and unwilling to order a strike on his own, Obama handed the problem to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Syrian ally, critics say.
Rep. Peter King, a Long Island Republican, told The Post the deal gives Assad a pass to stay in power longer — and shows Russia is holding the cards.
“Russia is Assad’s ally, and it will be difficult for us to get to him,” said King, who sits on the House intelligence committee.
“Assuming he has to give up his weapons, he’s still guaranteed his tenure as president. Assad sees it as a guarantee to stay in power.”