The debate about the Syrian crisis is now as much about shoulda, woulda, coulda, as it is about what can happen now. Douglas Alexander’s response to the G8 communique this afternoon said:
‘This statement begs the question whether a different diplomatic approach by the Prime Minister, not focusing so much effort on lifting the arms embargo, but instead engaging the Russians at an earlier stage, could have resulted in a different and more positive outcome.’
So Labour would not have started from here. Beyond that Alexander isn’t clear about when that golden opportunity for engaging the Russians was, and whether he really believes that there was a point at which Putin could have turned anyway. If Assad survives, it will send out the message to other dictators that having Russia on your side is the way to go, which is why the Russians are so keen to stand firm on the president’s future, and why his name didn’t make it into the communique.
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