Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today discussed questions of a possible Russian deployment of ground troops to Syria, saying that the matter is purely hypothetical at this point because no request has been made, but that if the Assad government, a long-time ally, did request it Moscow would at least “consider” the matter.
The US claims that Russia has deployed troops already to Latakia, but Russia maintains that the handful of troops there are purely defensive and meant to oversee the ongoing delivery of military aid to the Assad government for the purposes of their fight against ISIS.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem touched on the matter as well, saying that he believes that with new Russian weaponry the Syrian military will be fine on its own, but that if the need arises Syria would request Russian troops to help them fight ISIS.
ISIS now controls over half of Syria’s territory, and the government only controls a portion of the remaining half, with other rebel factions, notably al-Qaeda, taking up significant holdings as well. The current focus of the military is mostly the defense of the Latakia coast, as well as the area around the capital city of Damascus. Losing ground elsewhere, however, the question of how long the military can sustain its defense is an open one.
The Syrian government has made a point of avoiding any direct military intervention from its allies in the civil war so far, relying mostly on Shi’ite militias and Hezbollah in particular as auxiliaries. Iran and Russia have both provided advisers, however, and both have a vested interest in seeing the current government, or something comparable, surviving the ISIS onslaught.
There is a lot more at stake than just a Syrian despots removal, with Iran gradually pulling away and not even arming Hezbollah this leaves the little tough guy all alone. If Putin and his advisors cannot at least insert themselves into the fray the loss of
prestige for Russia ( and the tough but pragmatic public face of Putin) will be
irreversible in eyes of rest of world.
Assad does not need to remain only some no matter how small an allied with Russia remnant of a legitimate government.
Wether US will toss him a small bone in order to save his face seems to be whatt the behind the scenes wink wink is all
about.
The Iranian pipeline thay wad headed towards the Rusdian sea base contracts habe been recinded as portion does indeed( as noted by another correspondent) does indeed go to israel first.
Chance to get a all Bull Peace Prize for Putin if he gets Assad to leave.
He has to kiss Obamas ass though, gonna be interesting to see how he fares.
To hell with jow Russia fares we love celebritys fo we.not.
I guess the Russians can fight them in Syria and/or on their border but why will they fare better than the US, or their previous attempt in Afghanistan?
Well, judging by the way they kicked ass in georgia they may actually have what it takes. Besides, they've had decades to watch the US blunder around the M.E, you'd expect they'd not make the same mistakes.
No. That's the whole point of bogging Putin down in the Syrian quagmire.
Perhaps because Syria isn't Afghanistan, Russia isn't the Soviet Union or the US, and this isn't the 80s.
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The more Putin bogs himself down in Syria, the better. He has now openly allied himself to Assad. That means that if Assad falls it will be a defeat for Putin, even if it's as part of a deal proposed by him. And precisely because Putin has so openly allied himself to Assad, any post-Assad government will probably kick him out of the naval base. If Assad survives, it will be a further defeat for the US and a further encouragement of ISIS and that right on Israel's doorstep. I can't see the Israelis being pleased to see their principal protector letting itself be pushed around by Putin. As for iran, having just made its peace with the US, it's not now going to get into a fight over Assad.
Putin bogging himself down in Syria?
Putin isn't a nice guy but, "Uncle Joseph Stalin", who was even a less nice guy, did most of the heavy lifting to make sure Hitler, an even less nice guy than either, didn't end up on top. Nobody on the allied side in 1941 was under the illusion that Stalin was anything other than a monster; he was just a lesser monster. Ukrainians had good reason to greet German soldiers as liberators but it was very much a case of being careful what you wish for.
It is in nobody's interest to have ISIS in control in Syria.
I don´t see Russia sending anything else than advise and material aid to Syria. Peskov´s declaration is just a formality due to an old ally.
OKkkkkk, You got Russia now using its military to aid the US and Assad regime in doing what?
Most assuredly not to Destroy ISIS Which was a US/ME/Israel Euro funded and supplied terrorist group; a group whose only reason for formation was to be terrorist.
Problem was the leader who until 2013 we know was a CIA operative in every nation in Middle East and Central Asian terror group, while a good agent he was not cut outrealy be a leader and the ISIS movement soon went fr beyond his and CIA operatives Round him ability to control.
He was accepted because he had access to the cash, and no matter how much they hate US they sure like those dollars,and other ME currencies.
Assad has what amounts to a mercenary military force, one that can only count upon a very minor part of old Syrian society, the financial ruling class and the government of none bureaucratic office holders, hardly an awe inspiring group one will sacrifice ones life for.
The educated and skilled Syrian middle educated class are the ones now bundling up all the” precious” they can and are running for europe.
OncebPutin acting as a negotiator has settledthe fear of bureaucrats and mid level government employees that they will not be (AS WAS DONE IN IRAQ) rounded up as a deck of cards and had someone cutting the deck.
US.now knows that their bureaucrats are good ass kissers while in land of plenty money that hides their f’ups as they sit in old established make work fat ass office chairs, are asnworthless as teats on a boar hog when trying to run a foreign nations
infrastructure.
Putin the good doggy may well of played a good hand and will still get some recognition without him having to take his shirt off.
Hide Behind: Wow man. You’re spelling is atrocious and worse than a first grader. But you’re ideas are even more ridiculous!!!