West of Eden: Twilight at the end of the tunnel?

Putin Said to Order Start of Withdrawal From Syria https://t.co/nhB1IaUNIZ Thanks Obama, Kerry, and De Mistura

— Yastreblyansky (@Yastreblyansky) March 14, 2016

That was my first reaction, really excited. On the eve of the serious talks on Syria in Geneva starting today, enabled by the UN cessation of hostilities three weeks ago, Vladimir Vladimirovich has found the moment for a face-saving exit before the "quagmire" begins. Or, as the experts were saying at BBC this morning, the territorial division has got to some kind of point where the situation can be stabilized into some kind of confederal arrangement. They're not moving out all their stuff, but operations have ceased, and pilots are showing up in Russia.

Either way, I believe this move and the talks are connected, and it's really possible that some part of the war is starting to come to an end.

Professor Cole notes that Hezbollah troops are withdrawing too, heading home to Beirut.

Tombs of the Caliphs, Baghdad, 19th century. Via Eon Images.

In a phone call with Putin,

President Obama welcomed the much-needed reduction in violence since the beginning of the cessation, but stressed that continuing offensive actions by Syrian regime forces risk undermining both the Cessation of Hostilities and the UN-led political process.  The President also noted some progress on humanitarian assistance efforts in Syria but emphasized the need for regime forces to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance delivery to the agreed-upon locations, notably Daraya.  The President underscored that a political transition is required to end the violence in Syria.