IS officially a disaster.

 

The reality of Syria is now this - ISIS and various factions, including US trained rebels vs. Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and soon to be China.

 

 

President Obama, Kerry, and Clinton have weakened the US to the point that our influence is shrinking and there is a very real risk of this escalating to the unthinkable.

Everything Obama and Kerry touch when it comes to foreign policy is screwed up. If you would just do the opposite of what they do in each foreign policy situation, you would most likely be right. The only guy I can think of who I would want less to negotiate for American interests than Obama...is Kerry.

And we don't even have a single carrier in the Persian Gulf now.

Weakness brings us to where we are today. Sad.

At this point, arm as much as possible the ones who are against Assad (not the extreme ones) and who Russia is fighting. As the more Russian deaths there are, it will get bad for Putin at home, this could be his Afghanistan.

Weakness brings us to where we are today. Sad.

 

As I said in another thread a few days ago, the Russian violation of Turkish airspace was no accident, it's Putin playing his little games. He never has long term goals, he just wants to see what NATO will do when he nears a line or crosses it a hair.

Eh.

 

The same people furious about this were also furious about the US and NATO helping out the Libyan rebels. And there were some obvious implications from that the world is still reckoning with.

 

Syria is a disaster at every level. Ignoring the humanitarian crisis there, I say let Putin mire Russia in that quagmire. Unless Damascus reclaims sovereignty over all of Syria in the very near future, which they won't, Putin's Bushian machismo will have Russia there indefinitely trying to save face.

And we don't even have a single carrier in the Persian Gulf now.

 

That is scheduled maintenance.

 

I will add thought that the gutting of the military by Clinton and then taken back up under Obama has lead to us not being where we need to be Navy wise, without the assets to cover regular maintenance.

Eh.

 

The same people furious about this were also furious about the US and NATO helping out the Libyan rebels. And there were some obvious implications from that the world is still reckoning with.

 

Syria is a disaster at every level. Ignoring the humanitarian crisis there, I say let Putin mire Russia in that quagmire. Unless Damascus reclaims sovereignty over all of Syria in the very near future, which they won't, Putin's Bushian machismo will have Russia there indefinitely trying to save face.

 

This isn't about anything other than Russia, Iran, and China having a deep water port and access to oil and an oil pipeline.

 

There is way more to this than people realize.

True but still an inept foreign policy team. I give you todays WSJ:

 

Those who know the Obama White House’s inner workings wonder why this president, who came into office with next to no experience of foreign policy, has made so little effort to hire strategic expertise.

 

Answer: Because he thinks he is always the smartest man in the room. He thinks giving speeches and words will change the world. Kumbaya.

This isn't about anything other than Russia, Iran, and China having a deep water port and access to oil and an oil pipeline.

 

There is way more to this than people realize.

 

I'm going to need more to go on to believe that's Russia's overarching motivation. Iraq still separates Syria from Iran, and Iraq is as much of a disaster as Syria is and there isn't the possibility of a stable government waiting in the wings.

 

Putin isn't the strategic mastermind many make him out to be. Many of his decisions are rash and designed to project the image of Russia he wishes it to be as opposed to forwarding the raw interests of Russia. Maybe Syria will reclaim its sovereignty and Russia will be perceived to be more powerful, but it's a huge gamble.

Have you noticed where the largest oil find recently is?

 

 

It is a gamble, but when you have a chance to destroy and trump American influence for the first time in 30 years over an area that is vitally important to the worlds economy, you take it.

 

Putin isn't as mastermind, but he is a proud KGB officer who believes in getting rich and Russia.......

Russia is going broke. They need the dough or they need a smokescreen to hide the truth from their people, hence wars on middle east land masses.

Have you noticed where the largest oil find recently is?

 

From what I gather, you're talking about the Golan Heights. But this is territory controlled by Israel. Even a regime in Damascus at full strength wouldn't be able to take control of that. Maybe there are reserves that bleed further into Syria, but that's only speculation.

 

On top of this, Russia has been directing its strikes in the north. If they only wanted unrestrained access to the oil they would only need to help the regime take back control of the area south of Damascus near the border, which would likely be somewhat easier as this is where the regime is strongest.

 

There are too many "ifs" in the equation for me.

At this point, arm as much as possible the ones who are against Assad (not the extreme ones) and who Russia is fighting. As the more Russian deaths there are, it will get bad for Putin at home, this could be his Afghanistan.

 

Aren't most of Assad's enemies extremists like ISIS?