NEWSWATCH: “U.S., Russia Discuss Syria Cooperation Plan. Officials see hope of reducing violence and creating atmosphere for political transition” – Wall Street Journal
… Kerry and … Lavrov are meeting … in a bid to complete a deal on increased cooperation in Syria that officials hope could help create the calm necessary for talks on a political transition. … The Pentagon is concerned about more closely cooperating with Russia, which backs … al-Assad’s regime. * * * Kerry’s efforts are opposed by some in the Central Intelligence Agency and the Pentagon, who doubt that Moscow will abide …. Proponents at the White House and … State Department say the deal will allow the U.S. to step up its attacks on Nusra and help protect U.S. allies on the ground …. Syria has been mired by five years of civil war in which hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced, creating the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Since 2011, the U.S. has pursued a variety of efforts with international partners to try to begin peace talks, all which have floundered.