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I don't understand. Why would Russia want a dog in this fight? Why not just focus on ISIS? Now, it looks like it's in a skirmish with Turkey.
Oh yes, Russia DOES have a dog in this fight.
"But it’s important to note the timing: This coalition and meddling in Syria came about immediately on the heels of discussions of an Iran-Iraq-Syria gas pipeline that was to be built between 2014 and 2016 from Iran’s giant South Pars field through Iraq and Syria. With a possible extension to Lebanon, it would eventually reach Europe, the target export market.
Perhaps the most accurate description of the current crisis over gas, oil and pipelines that is raging in Syria has been described by Dmitry Minin, writing for the Strategic Cultural Foundation in May 2013:
“A battle is raging over whether pipelines will go toward Europe from east to west, from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean coast of Syria, or take a more northbound route from Qatar and Saudi Arabia via Syria and Turkey. Having realized that the stalled Nabucco pipeline, and indeed the entire Southern Corridor, are backed up only by Azerbaijan’s reserves and can never equal Russian supplies to Europe or thwart the construction of the South Stream, the West is in a hurry to replace them with resources from the Persian Gulf. Syria ends up being a key link in this chain, and it leans in favor of Iran and Russia; thus it was decided in the Western capitals that its regime needs to change."
"Indeed, tensions were building between Russia, the U.S. and the European Union amid concerns that the European gas market would be held hostage to Russian gas giant Gazprom. The proposed Iran-Iraq-Syria gas pipeline would be essential to diversifying Europe’s energy supplies away from Russia."
It's all about the US push for world dominance and Russia that stands on their way, with strong economic ties to Europe including, which ( in the mind of Washington) prevents European Union to heel to American commands.
So yes, Russia indeed has a dog in this fight. Russia stayed away from Western meddling in Iraq and Libya, but Syria - that's already a direct hit at Russian interests.
Not to mention that Syria ( and Assad) have been Russian allies for long time, providing much-needed port in Tartus
Uh hello, Assad has been in power throughout all of all this and there has been countless deaths , instability and I side and outside Syria.
Compare Libya, despite overthrowing it's old regime, it does not have the bloodshed and instability of Syria.
To say Assad is stability is laughable when he has been in power with all of this. Assad started all this .
I agree with the rest if your post though.
There isn't stability now, obviously, because there's a war going on. But Syria was stable for a long time under the Assad family and likely would be again if Assad wins the war. If he loses, there is little if any chance of a stable future for the country as there would be no domestic power capable of keeping IS in check.
Uh hello, Assad has been in power throughout all of all this and there has been countless deaths , instability and I side and outside Syria.
Compare Libya, despite overthrowing it's old regime, it does not have the bloodshed and instability of Syria.
To say Assad is stability is laughable when he has been in power with all of this. Assad started all this .
I agree with the rest if your post though.
This is an impressive attempt at spin.
Assad has been in power because he is in rightful power defending his nation from a terrorist army and suspiciously funded rebels. Blaming him for "being in power", instability, and claiming that "he started this" while a psychopathic army of jihadists tears up the region is the worst type of insanity. There is no justification in international law for deposing Assad from power. Claimed consensus of interests who have been plotting his overthrow since the 1990's is irrelevant without a UN court ruling.
Libya was stable until a suspiciously funded rebellion, then it was unstable until Gadhafi was illegally deposed by method of impaling him on a knife through his anus, and now you call it "stable" even though it is pretty much now just a wild west jumping off point for jihadists and refugees.
Assad has been in power because he is in rightful power defending his nation from a terrorist army and suspiciously funded rebels. Blaming him for "being in power", instability, and claiming that "he started this" while a psychopathic army of jihadists tears up the region is the worst type of insanity. There is no justification in international law for deposing Assad from power. Claimed consensus of interests who have been plotting his overthrow since the 1990's is irrelevant without a UN court ruling.
Libya was stable until a suspiciously funded rebellion, then it was unstable until Gadhafi was illegally deposed by method of impaling him on a knife through his anus, and now you call it "stable" even though it is pretty much now just a wild west jumping off point for jihadists and refugees.
Nice try though. Well, not really. It was a try.
I suspect you are reading yet another Eastern European.
In their vision Russia is the evil of the world, so anything and everything that somehow ( even remotely) can serve Russian interests must be announced "illegal" and "dangerous."
That pretty much sums up their world outlook.
When you encounter this kind of approach, chances are that you are not dealing with a "neoliberal" ( although many of Eastern Europeans are, I suppose,) but first of all - chances are you are talking to an Eastern European, Poles most likely.
Russia needs a FRIEND in the Middle East, Iran and Russia both hate the US. Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the US are allies, Iran and Saudi Arabia don't get along. The Jews are in on it too. This whole conflict is a MESS.
It's all about the US push for world dominance and Russia that stands on their way, with strong economic ties to Europe including, which ( in the mind of Washington) prevents European Union to heel to American commands.
So yes, Russia indeed has a dog in this fight. Russia stayed away from Western meddling in Iraq and Libya, but Syria - that's already a direct hit at Russian interests...
Pipelines notwithstanding, whoever wrote this post is stuck in the propaganda of some previous century.
The only part of the Obama administration's foreign policy that everyone can agree upon is that he wants desperately to reduce America's standing in the community of nations. This administration isn't trying to dominate the world. This administration would like to hide from the world. (Hence - so many hot spots flaring up and Russia's resurgence.)
Syria has been Russia's (only) ally in the middle east for decades, and provides the Russian fleet with its only port in the Med. Russia needs her ties to Syria to maintain her regional influence and to park her ships.
I appreciate Zero Hedge, but have found them a bit out on a limb before. Western leaders don't decide on regime change because of pipelines - particularly in the Middle East.
Because Russia is interested in stability. And the only way to ensure that in the Middle East is by keeping a secular dictator---no matter how brutal---in charge. If Hussein and Qaddafi were still alive and in power, ISIS wouldn't exist.
Pipelines notwithstanding, whoever wrote this post is stuck in the propaganda of some previous century.
The only part of the Obama administration's foreign policy that everyone can agree upon is that he wants desperately to reduce America's standing in the community of nations. This administration isn't trying to dominate the world. This administration would like to hide from the world. (Hence - so many hot spots flaring up and Russia's resurgence.)
Syria has been Russia's (only) ally in the middle east for decades, and provides the Russian fleet with its only port in the Med. Russia needs her ties to Syria to maintain her regional influence and to park her ships.
I appreciate Zero Hedge, but have found them a bit out on a limb before. Western leaders don't decide on regime change because of pipelines - particularly in the Middle East.
The Obama administration's foreign policy is the one that the American people voted for in 2008 & 2012and he is following that mandate. We tried dominating the World with the last administration under the guise of terrorism & WMD's and now we have ISIS to thank for those past blunders.
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