Exclusive: Despite tensions, Russia seeks U.S. help to rebuild Syria

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Reuters
Arshad Mohammed, Phil Stewart
AUGUST 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has used a closely guarded communications channel with America’s top general to propose the two former Cold War foes cooperate to rebuild Syria and repatriate refugees to the war-torn country, according to a U.S. government memo.

A boy walks along a damaged street at the city of Douma in Damascus, Syria, April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
The proposal was sent in a July 19 letter by Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian military’s General Staff, to U.S. Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to the memo which was seen by Reuters.

The Russian plan, which has not been previously reported, has received an icy reception in Washington. The memo said the U.S. policy was only to support such efforts if there were a political solution to end Syria’s seven-year-old civil war, including steps like U.N.-supervised elections.

The proposal illustrates how Russia, having helped turn the tide of the war in favor of President Bashar al-Assad, is now pressing Washington and others to aid the reconstruction of areas under his control. Such an effort would likely further cement Assad’s hold on power.

(more)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-syria-exclusive/exclusive-despite-tensions-russia-seeks-u-s-help-to-rebuild-syria-idUSKBN1KO2JP

Yea, sure. That's just what we need right now. We need to spend billions rebuilding another country with our own infrastructure crumbling under our feet. Especially since we know that whatever we build in the M.E. is just going to get blown up by crazy Muslims eventually. Anything nice anyone builds in any Muslim country in the Middle East will eventually get blown up. That's just the way those people live.

Look at Gaza as an example. Israel left them a beautiful place, full of greenhouses and civil infrastructure. And the very first thing the Muslims did when they took it over was to blow everything up. It's just what they do. Nice/Sanitary/Productive/Civilization is too 'Western' for them. The Muslim version of the saying, "Keeping it Real", is to live in poverty and filth, like feral dogs.

[catfish1957]

Reuters hire an Onion writer?