aside from the GDP issue, this article is a nothingburger; it simply repeats over and over again that syria is a ‘disaster’ for Putin, but never really explains WHY it is a disaster, or offers any analysis or examples about what is supposedly disastrous about syria for putin.
as far as i can see, putin was instrumental in helping to defeat ISIS in syria, which to me is pretty much all that matters.
There was no disaster in Ukraine.
Russia held the Crimea, all else was smoke and mirrors to obfuscate latching on to Crimea.
The exercise in Syria was a sales effort where customers could come and see Russian arms on display.
The pitch has been made and those with money have signed contracts so there is no longer a need for a Russian Military effort in Syria
The worth of the effort is measured in Russian arms sales. What happens to Syria is irrelevant.
I tend to believe this is true, which explains why Trump has turned the screws against Syria as of late. Our bargaining position has just gotten much stronger. The deal on this one will be quite a piece of Art.
From what Bill Sallus teaches:
Damascus is destroyed by Israel first (possible response to chem warfare spillover) Gog/Magog invasion follows.
Would that not be the “hooks” Ezekiel talks about in 38:4?
I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out . . .
WE are so strong and great, huh..?
Ridiculous.
It’s a potential quagmire for US also.
Wow, what a high-horse, I can see clouds below me.
Putin has allowed Syria to use chemical weapons, and he has helped Iran on the path to becoming a nuclear power. Such initiatives would never have been tolerated in the old Soviet Union of Stalin, Khrushchev, and Brezhnev. An ally was allowed options for military force well within what the Soviet Union could control politically. Allies were never given Soviet state of the art military weapons. The leaders I mentioned would never have allowed a nuclear power to develop on their border.
Putin would have ended his short life in a cancer ward.
Putin wants Syria for two reasons: The airbase, and the PORT. BOTH gives Putin entry into the region.