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Back to Reading * News * Metro * Page Six * Sports * Business * Opinion * Entertainment * Fashion * Living * Media * Tech * Real Estate * Sub Menu 1 + Photos + Video + Covers + Columnists + Horoscopes * Sub Menu 2 + Classifieds + Subscribe * Sign in In The News: hillary clinton iran lamar odom 2016 presidential election new york mets Sections Search ____________________ (search) Sign in / Register New York Post Share this: * Facebook * Twitter * Google * WhatsApp * Email * Copy * Benny Avni Benny Avni Opinion Share this: * Facebook * Twitter * Google * WhatsApp * Email * Copy * Obama has turned Putin into the world’s most powerful leader By Benny Avni * View author archive * follow on twitter * Get author RSS feed Name(required) ____________________ Email(required) ____________________ Comment(required) ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Submit » September 29, 2015 | 1:21am Modal Trigger Obama has turned Putin into the world’s most powerful leader Photo: Reuters MORE FROM: Benny Avni Benny Avni Iran-Saudi crisis is the bitter fruit of Obama's inept diplomacy This was the year that China truly broke out Washington is closing its eyes to Iran’s persecution of Christians John Kerry's fevered fantasy of a Syrian peace President Obama is the last hope for Latin America's lefty thugs The baton was officially transferred Monday to the world’s new sole superpower — and Vladimir Putin willingly picked it up. President Obama (remember him?) embraced the ideals espoused by the United Nations’ founders 70 years ago: Diplomacy and “international order” will win over time, while might and force will lose. Putin, too, appealed to UN laws (as he sees them), but he also used his speech to announce the formation of a “broad international coalition” to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq. “Similar to the anti-Hitler coalition, it could unite a broad range of forces” to fight “those who, just like the Nazis, sow evil and hatred of humankind,” he said. And who’d lead this new coalition? Hint: Moscow has always celebrated the Allies’ World War II victory as a Russian-led fete. Oh, and if anyone wondered which Syrian players the coalition would rely on as allies, Putin made it clear: “No one but President [Bashar al-]Assad’s armed forces and Kurd militia are fighting the Islamic State.” That, of course, isn’t Obama’s view. America’s president said he opposed the “logic of supporting tyrants.” After all, Assad “drops barrel bombs on innocent children.” But Putin has troops in Syria, is arming Assad to the teeth and signed a pact of anti-ISIS intelligence-sharing with Assad, Iran and the leaders of Iraq (the ones America fought to put in power). And after meeting Obama for the first time in two years Monday, he spoke vaguely about future “joint air attacks on ISIS.” But no agreement on Assad was reached in the 90-minute meeting. Meantime, if Obama has any realistic Syria plan of his own — beyond having Assad magically “transitioned” out of the country and simultaneously fighting ISIS — he failed to present it during his UN speech. Or any other time. Instead, he scolded an “isolated” Putin for using force to annex Crimea and other parts of Ukraine. “Imagine if, instead, Russia had engaged in true diplomacy,” said Obama. “That would be better for Ukraine, but also better for Russia, and better for the world.” IFRAME: http://www.youtube.com/embed/7gzFPI11jp8?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&autohide= 2&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent Then again, imagine if Obama’s eloquence were backed by, say, American-led NATO. Would Putin so easily be able to eat up Ukraine and take over Syria? Not likely. But even as he chided Russia, China and even Iran for being steeped in the policies of the past, it was Obama who at times sounded like a throwback to days of yore. His celebration of the United Nations was reminiscent of scenes from 1950s movies that portrayed it as a place where problems are actually resolved. In reality, along the decades (and even more so in the last six years), the UN became so paralyzed that it can no longer serve as arbiter of global security. Obama’s speech was, as ever, full of promise. His turn from using “might” to claiming to have “right” on his side and relying on diplomacy have led to America’s opening up to Cuba and a key deal with Iran on nukes. But these are yet to yield positive results. “If this deal is implemented,” he said of Iran, “our world is safer.” Big if. By contrast, Putin’s deployment of forces in Syria and arming of Assad create facts on the ground. They have also propelled him to the top by taking initiative on today’s most consequential world fight. Although Obama received much less applause during his Monday speech than in past years, he’s still well-liked at the world body. Yet those who count, the ones he scolded in his speech — Putin, Assad, China’s Xi Jinping and even Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani — weren’t in their seats to hear his words. Because as forceful as Obama’s words are, they’re rarely backed by action. Putin? Nobody applauded him. He’s more interested in being feared than liked. Then again, his words, at most, are meant to explain forceful action. That’s how Putin seized leadership from America. And that, to borrow from Obama’s speech, is bad for Syria, where the war will continue as long as Assad remains in power. It’s bad for Europe and Syria’s neighbors, which have no idea what to do with that war’s refugees. And it’s bad for America. Because sooner or later, after more bloodshed and under even worse conditions than now, our next president will be called upon to retake the leadership baton from Putin. And that could prove tricky. Share this: * Facebook * Twitter * Google * WhatsApp * Email * Copy * Filed under barack obama , bashar al-assad , isis , refugees , syria , united nations , vladimir putin Share this article: Share this: * Facebook * Twitter * Google * WhatsApp * Email * Copy * Read Next Why this New York mom is marching for better schools Read Next Why this New York mom is marching for better schools Most Popular This Week 1 The brutal secrets behind 'The Biggest Loser' The brutal secrets behind 'The Biggest Loser' 2 Dad meticulously planned daughter's murder: cops Dad meticulously planned daughter's murder: cops 3 Dad eyed in killing of pregnant woman found in basement Dad eyed in killing of pregnant woman found in basement 4 Suspects claim teen was having sex with father before alleged gang rape Suspects claim teen was having sex with father before alleged gang rape 5 ‘Unlucky’ Powerball loser takes home $101M from Mega Millions ‘Unlucky’ Powerball loser takes home $101M from Mega Millions 6 Here's what Sean Penn agreed to do to party with El Chapo Here's what Sean Penn agreed to do to party with El Chapo Share Selection Columnists John Podhoretz Here's what Sean Penn agreed to do to party with El Chapo Obama delivers the most boring speech of his presidency Ralph Peters Here's what Sean Penn agreed to do to party with El Chapo ISIS's latest slaughter puts the lie to Obama's happy talk Rich Lowry Here's what Sean Penn agreed to do to party with El Chapo The sad, shocking truth about the Republican establishment SEE ALL COLUMNISTS Editorials [492530060.jpg?quality=100&strip=all&w=260&h=174&cr op=1] MoveOn.org moves on beyond the Clintons 'No indictment' hardly clears Cuomo for his betrayal of anti-corruption Team de Blasio is earning a fresh state slap on the schools Trending Now on NYPost.com 16,619 Obama has turned Putin into the world’s most powerful leader Suspects claim teen was having sex with father before alleged gang rape 12,999 Obama has turned Putin into the world’s most powerful leader No one wants to buy the 'Silence of the Lambs' house 12,140 Obama has turned Putin into the world’s most powerful leader Workers 'won' $949M Powerball — for 20 minutes Today's Cover Covers for January 13, 2016 Covers for January 13, 2016 Covers for January 12, 2016 Covers for January 12, 2016 Covers for January 11, 2016 Covers for January 11, 2016 Covers for January 10, 2016 Covers for January 10, 2016 Browse covers archive More Stories Now On Page Six Yolanda Foster files for divorce Now On Decider The 5 Best ‘Making A Murderer’ Fan Theories Now On IAF 1:06 Lance Bass Indulges Us With His Celebrity Trivia New York Post * Twitter * Facebook * Google Plus * 2015 Blessing of the Animals * Apps Help & FAQ * Columnists * Community Guidelines * Contacts * Customer Service * Fantasy Football Draft Calculator * Home Delivery * Home Delivery FAQ * Jobs * NYCFC Giveaway Terms * NYCFC Giveaway Thank You * Page Six Fashion Sweeps Terms * pagesixfashionsweeps-thank-you * Privacy * Privacy * Recommended for You * Reset * RSS Feeds * Search * Terms of Use * Terms of Use * Test Page * The Pascalizer * Verify © Copyright 2016 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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