Putin pleas for caution in NYT op-ed

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The New York Times on Wednesday evening published an op-ed piece on its website by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who argued for caution in the Syrian chemical weapons crisis, while urging the U.S. to work through the mechanism of the United Nations for a peaceful resolution to the issue.

In the article, titled "A Plea for Caution From Russia," Putin wrote that recent events surrounding Syria have prompted him to "speak directly to the American people and their political leaders" to remind the U.S. of the importance of the United Nations in the international order.

"No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage," wrote Putin, "This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization."

The Russian president continued to argue against military intervention in Syria, saying it will undoubtedly result in civilian casualties in a country embroiled in "armed conflict between government and opposition."

"There are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the government," warned Putin. He also aired his doubts over the U.S. claim that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government used chemical weapons.

"There is every reason to believe that it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists."

Putin also said Russia is "not protecting the Syrian government, but international law", while advocating a peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future.

"Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression," wrote Putin, invoking failed U.S. military ventures in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

At the end of the article, Putin questioned the wisdom of American exceptionalism, saying it is "extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," as "God created us equal."

On Tuesday evening, U.S. President Barack Obama appeared to embrace the Russian proposal to put Syrian chemical weapons under international control, after weeks of arguing that the United States should use military force to punish Syria for alleged use of chemical weapons.

• Obama says to work with Russia, partners on Syria chemical weapons
• Hollande, Obama hold phone talk on Moscow's diplomatic initiative on Syria
• Putin's Syria stance offers US way out
• U.S. proof of chemical weapons use far from convincing: Putin spokesman
• Putin warns U.S. against unilateral military action on Syria
• Putin intimate contacts with marine animals
• Putin pressures Obama over Syria
• Putin praises G20 achievements, sets goals for upcoming summit

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