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The current Syrian government is internationally recognized and has been for decades. You can state any history you want, but at the end of the day, Assad is the leader of Syria.
But again, what business is it of ours? They are on the other side of the world, let countries in that region handle it, and that would include Russia.
As for "force of arms", every government in the ME exists due to brute force.
I am still baffled why so many people advocate a radical, Taliban type state to exist in Syria, and think that is better than Assad.
For a simple reason that Assad is what Russians want. And if Russians want Assad, then even Taliban state is better than Assad)))
For a simple reason that Assad is what Russians want. And if Russians want Assad, then even Taliban state is better than Assad)))
I do not think Russia cares about Assad, but cares about not having a Taliban type state near it's border with basically escorted access to Russia through Turkey. If Russia cared about Assad, they would have intervened earlier.
Russia though must back Assad to strike terrorists, as I dobut Assad would allow Russia to enter and operate in Syria if Russia had no plan to prop up Assad, also, difficult for Russia to operate in Syria without Syrian assistance.
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Russia though must back Assad to strike terrorists, as I dobut Assad would allow Russia to enter and operate in Syria if Russia had no plan to prop up Assad, also, difficult for Russia to operate in Syria without Syrian assistance.
Assad has no choice in the matter. His survival is 100% dependent upon the Russians. On the other hand, the Russians have a good point. You can't destroy the institutions of government and expect a good outcome. (the Obama approach) Libya is an excellent example of this.
Well, I assume the game isn't over, so perhaps, checkmate was the wrong term, but they certainly put the US in check.
What is the next move?
Even though my very own life and personal interests are at stake, I think it may prove to be a brilliant move strategically; however, I cannot underestimate the analytical power of the US and its allies.
Perhaps, this was a set up and Putin just took the bait.
Next move. Ostupid will stomp his foot and blame Bush.
Did Putin checkmate the US with their presence in Syria?
Nope
Putin is just trying to save face. And it will most likely ultimately fail. Syria has long been a Russian client state - since early in the cold war. Now that Putin's ally Assad is on the ropes, he's doing what he can to show how he'll stand by his "ally." But Assad's days are likely numbered and the Russian effort will have no real effect on the middle east. Just as the US efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have made no real difference.
Well, I assume the game isn't over, so perhaps, checkmate was the wrong term, but they certainly put the US in check.
Good call.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobster
What is the next move?
Military doctrine says "Watch & Wait."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobster
Even though my very own life and personal interests are at stake, I think it may prove to be a brilliant move strategically; however, I cannot underestimate the analytical power of the US and its allies.
The US needs Syria before it can move on Iran.
What happened to all of Russia's allies in the Mediterranean Region?
Yugoslavia: Castrated by US
Libya: Government overthrown by US
Tunisia: Government overthrown by US
Egypt: Government overthrown by US
All other States are NATO members (Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain and France) or allies of the US or pacified (like Lebanon).
Where in the Mediterranean Region can a Russian ship port?
Only in Syria. Syria is also the only place Russia could put a forward operating base for aircraft.
The US needs Iran so that it has unfettered air, rail and road access from the Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean Region to Central Asia and protect the Petro-Dollar.
So who would be a "legitimate leader" in Syria according to your opinion?
The one whom Kurds, radical muslims, Shias and Sunnis plus Christians alike will "democratically" vote into the office?
Just lol.
The situation you described could have applied to 17th Century Germany during the 30 years War. Germany was fragmented into Saxons, Bavarians, Prussians, Hanoverians and dozens of smaller principalities , city states and duchys and in Lower Germany Spain was fighting the Flemings and Dutch trying to keep them under their control. Outside powers like Sweden that considered the Baltic as a private sea were in the game to assert their power over Northern Germany , The Austrian Habsburgs sent their forces in because they wanted Germany to be a Catholic land and to keep their long term grasp on the Holy Roman Empire. France felt the Rhineland shpuld be theirs. On top of this Germany was the battlefield for the Reformation and the struggle of the Protestant princes to secure their freedom from Catholicism. In 1630 you would have been unable to visualize the Free, unified, democratic and peaceful Germany of today. There was no democracy in 17th Century Germany or in Europe period. It was a long strange and sometimes bloody and painful journey for Germany to go from what it was in the 17th Century to what it is now in the early 21st Century. The peoples and nations of the Middle East find themselves in a similar place Germans once did and it may take as much blood and tears for a long time for them to to learn to live together in peace and their leaders listen to all their peoples like Germans do now. The outside powers may have to get their hands burned before they learn to leave these people alone. But in the long span of history it will come to pass.
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Did Putin checkmate the US with their presence in Syria?
