Monday, September 28, 2015
Russia Settles into Syria and Iraq
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he is ready to discuss Syria with Russia, stressing the need for coordination to avoid any "incident or accident" between Russian forces and US-led forces fighting ISIS. Stoltenberg, in New York for the annual General Assembly meeting, said it was "too early to determine" what Russian plans are in Syria, but it has an increased military presence there, including warplanes and air defenses. Stoltenberg will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York to encourage Russia "to play a constructive, cooperative role in fighting ISIS," adding that support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "is not a constructive contribution to finding a solution." He said he welcomed contacts between the US and Russia, and he didn't rule out an expanded NATO role in the fight against ISIS, but wouldn't give specifics. He welcomed independent French air strikes. Western officials say US Secretary of State John Kerry wants to launch a new effort at the UN General Assembly this week to try to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. Kerry says it is vital to coordinate all efforts against ISIS but this is not yet happening. ~~~~~ As an indication of the lack of cooperation between the US and Russia in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday called US support for Syria rebel forces illegal and ineffective. "In my opinion, provision of military support to illegal structures runs counter to the principles of modern international law and the United Nations Charter," he said in an interview with US television networks CBS and PBS released by the Kremlin. Putin was interviewed ahead of a meeting with US President Barack Obama. Obama and Putin are scheduled to talk today after Putin addresses the UN, although White House and Kremlin officials disagree on what the two leaders will discuss and even who suggested the meeting. Russia has increased its military presence in Syria recently, and US officials accuse Moscow of sending combat aircraft, tanks and other equipment to help al-Assad's army. Russia's sudden military build-up in support of al-Assad has forced the US to rethink its Syria coalition, which now could include Russia, as well as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar that support Syrian opposition groups. Putin says al-Assad deserves support in his fight against "terrorists" and must be included in international efforts to fight ISIS, a demand the US rejects. Putin also criticized US plans to train 5,400 Syrian rebels to fight ISIS : "It turns out that only 60 of these fighters have been properly trained, and as few as four or five people actually carry weapons. The rest of them have deserted with the American weapons to join ISIS." Critics urge Obama to be more decisive in the Middle East and Syria - where the UN says 250,000 people have died in the four-year civil war - and say lack of a clear American policy has given ISIS opportunities to expand. ~~~~~ Dear readers, Russian news agency Interfax quoted a Russian military diplomatic source as saying a Baghdad committee might be formed to plan military operations and control armed units in the fight against ISIS. A Russian foreign ministry official told Interfax that Russia could "theoretically" join the US-led coalition against ISIS if al-Assad were included and international military operations in Syria had a UN mandate. Iraqi officials deny reports of a Baghdad coordination cell set up by Russian, Syrian and Iranian military commanders to work with Iranian-backed shiite militias in Iraq, seen by Iraq as key in its fight against radical sunni militants of ISIS. But, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari says the US-led coalition should bomb more ISIS targets in Iraq. Despite $20 billion in US aid and training, Iraq's army fled twice last year instead of fighting ISIS. If Obama refuses to change his failed Iraq/Syria tactics, Congress must force a change through budget controls. Obama is burning money with no hope of success. The Russian seizure of Syria/Iraq leadership makes a change of US regional policy imperative.
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Why is NATO Sec. General discussing anything about the United States actions with Russia? Has our Sec. of Defense gone fishing? Where is the great negotiator Sec. of Sate John Kerry. better yet has Obama not learned how to pick up that red phone on his desk and call Putin directly?
ReplyDeleteDoes this Obama administration genuflect to everyone over everything?
In many publications in and around the United States today that Putin “mocked” Obama last night of a CBS 60 Minutes program. Really! Is it now mocking to simply state the truth and the obvious failures of Obama?
ReplyDeletePutin was stating the fact that under Obama’s administration we (the United States) have failed to stop or at least slow down the civil war in Syria and that Iraq is a disaster because of Obama’s moves there.
The truth hurts folks, but Putin is not far from right on this matter. Is he right in his moves in Syria & Iraq not at all?
Obama doesn’t trust and he doesn’t verify. What he does is to leave the door open at night and wonder why the cat got pregnant and now he has multiple problems to care for.
When John Kerry says "we must coordinate all efforts against ISIS" he fails to either 1. Realize that Russia is there not to coordinate with anyone and 2. No one wats to make the Ivama administration look good on the International stage.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Russia ever run the risk of including the United States in a plan than could (but surely won't ever) be the bases if a cease fire or at best an end to agression in Syria?
A potential settlement to the massacre that is on going inside Syria would be a public relations God sent to the participants - and Putin is a Bill Clinton type when it comes to good press.
Obama's "red line in the sand" statement is now his Albatross secured tightly around his neck. And he has put the United States on a raft all by themselves
Re-read Casey Popshots to the right of this excellent posting. Put it out of your mind that it was written on Seotember 11, 1960 (what a coincidence).
ReplyDeleteThe words written by M, Stanton Evans rung as true tiday as they did 55 years ago. His words spell out the problem of overly aggressive governmental infringement into the lives of it!s citizens in the name of protection, betterment of life, and securing freedoms - none if which they (the aggressors) plan on doing.
That is exactly what is occurring today in the United States, Europe/EU, and the Middle East. Leaders in the false name if "protectionism of the citizens" are stealing the dreams and hopes of this and the next generations.