“For when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you”.
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Finally, we need to see Putin for who he is. I believe it’s quite the opposite, with Obama recognizing the harsh realities of Eastern Europe and the Middle East and wisely choosing restraint over reckless confrontation. “NATO Lost Orientation After Russia’s Military Operation in Syria” read a headline in its state-run news service Friday morning. But Washington’s feeble complaints ring hollow when the USA has itself set the precedent in targeting anti-ISIL groups. Counterterrorism absolves one of such responsibility. The costs were deferred on to the targeted populations. Twenty-two percent (22%) are not sure. He could project toughness by ordering assassinations from Waziristan to Somalia without ever having to confront an adversary equal in might. Degrading and defeating them in Syria won’t eliminate them as long as safe haven in Iraq exists. At home and overseas, Mr Obama’s resolve has proved elastic. It made no sense to Putin. Neither Abbas nor his Hamas rivals are willing to recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state, no matter where its borders might be drawn. Mr Putin is no master of the chess board. President Putin surely understands the implications of his actions. His resolve was tested and was found wanting. Instead of lectures, Mr. Putin ought to be given red lines; without them, his aggression will escalate.
Both of the explosions took place near the main train station at around 10am today, local time. The Pentagon claims at least four missiles landed several hundred miles off target, apparently on Iran, Russia’s ally in this fight.
The conflict in Syria is often described as a “proxy war” between the U.S. and Russian Federation.
On October. 7, Russian warships in the Caspian Sea fired 26 high-tech cruise missiles at rebel targets in Syria-a staggering 1,000 miles away. However it has taken a turn for the worse through Russian intervention by aerial bombing and ground support personnel.
“Since the early days of unrest in Syria, USA and western-backed terrorists roamed the country, purportedly to break the anti-Zionist resistance led by Syria in the region; Iran knows well this critical issue and would not hide its support to Bashar al-Assad, and will continue its support; Russian Federation shares this position with us and naturally cooperate with us in Syria; we would not cover up our seeking advice and giving it to Russian Federation and Iraq about Syria, just to neutralize the illegitimate foreign plan to overthrow Syrian democratically-elected government”, he emphasized to Al-Alam program. Turkey does not possess such a system of its own.
If pressed by its neighbor, Russia, Turkey’s government can stop US aircraft from using their main airbase at Incirlik in Turkey. Mr Obama may have paid a high price for securing a legacy that is now being humiliatingly unravelled by his own supposed partners.
Putin’s decision to step up Russian military intervention in Syria was clarified this week in The New York Times, based on reporting out of Beirut, where an official of the pro-government alliance (Russia, Iran, Hezbollah) spoke to Times reporter Anne Barnard. And President Barack Obama was willing to provide a few assistance to “moderate” rebels – weapons and training – to see him replaced.
Whatever is happening at this moment in Syria, Russian concern about the dangers of Islamic State should not be minimized.
The risk of a confrontation between North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Russian Federation has now become a possibility.
Once again, the world strains to understand Russia’s provocative entry into another nation’s civil war. Little thought is given to the toll this might extract, given Russia’s looser definition of a terrorist, and what an emboldened Mr Putin might do next. The vacuum Mr Obama left in Syria has been filled by Mr Putin.
So the United States strategy is being pushed back, and they have no basis, really, and this is their biggest problem for cooperation with Russian Federation, because their objectives are diametrically opposed. And as things stand now, the Russian air incursion means a more prolonged war of attrition.
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Muhammad Idrees Ahmad is a lecturer in journalism at the University of Stirling.
