“Anyhow, Russia isn’t stupid. Their air defense systems were firmly in place long before their aircraft arrived.”
Watch this buildup.
Beyond attacking ISIS, it has LOTS of strategic implications. Turkey is now flanked by significant Russia or Russian sympathetic Iran) forces all along it’s borders, as well as the Kurds.
The Saudi-Qatar Pipeline won’t be going through Iran, it won’t be going through Syria, it won’t be going through Israel, and thanks to Obama pushing Egypt firmly into the “Russian-leaning” camp, it won’t be going via Sinai, either.
As long as the Russians remain firmly implanted in the green part of Syria, west of the mountains, the gas pipeline to Europe that bypasses Russia is done.
This, I believe is the long game. The Russian mind always looks two moves ahead.
regards,