Sen. Corker Cautiously Optimistic On Syria Deal

September 16th, 2013

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), speaking Monday after a real estate conference in Marietta, still believes the Obama Administration isn’t doing enough to lay out a clear, long-term strategy for Syria, but he did express cautious optimism about the disarmament deal reached between the U.S. and Russia.

“I want to support Secretary Kerry’s efforts. I am very skeptical that Russia is going to be an honest broker, but let’s see this through, let’s see where this goes,” said Corker, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee and the co-author of the original resolution authorizing the use of force in Syria.

He emphasized Syria's chemical weapon stockpiles can't be destroyed overnight, even with full cooperation from Russia and the rest of the international community.

“Let’s face it we’re still doing away with ours. We still have a facility in Kentucky where we're doing away with the chemical weapons that we’ve been doing away with since 1997 so it’s an arduous process, it’s a complicated process.”

Corker also complained the agreement reached between the U.S. and Russia left out further threat of military action under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter.

“The most important factor in a Chapter 7 resolution is the veto and Russia has retained that, and so what that means is that our country has to seek their consent in all that we do — so let’s face it, Russia is very much going to have their hands on the steering wheel.”

Meanwhile, Secretary Kerry held meetings Monday in Paris with diplomatic counterparts from Britain, France, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to begin drafting how the international community will secure and eliminate Syria's chemical weapons.