Very soon after today’s announcement of the U.S.-Russia agreement on a partial cease fire in Syria, RT International conducted a Skype interview of Ray for comment.
It was not difficult: First, the situation on the ground has changed markedly, thanks to Russia’s military intervention starting in late September 2015, and Obama’s decision to cooperate with, rather than confront Moscow. What is new is the personal commitment of both President Obama and President Putin to make this detailed arrangement stick.
Ray suggested that Obama’s ability to exert the necessary influence on Washington’s “allies” – Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel – is less than Putin’s ability to influence Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Hezbollah. Ray further suggests that Obama was right the first time, when in early August 2014 he told Tom Friedman that the idea of arming “moderate” rebels in Syria has ”always been a fantasy.” And that is surely one reason they are so hard to find.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDGy_Fd5Aos&feature=youtu.be
(12 and a half minutes)