Posted on 09/29/2015 4:00:51 PM PDT by Kaslin
Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) was prophetic at CNN’s GOP presidential debate Sept. 16, predicting that Russia would continue to exploit a vacuum in the Middle East and “prop up” Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to demonstrate to the Middle East it was the most important power broker there.
The Obama administration was admittedly caught by surprise this week when Russia announced an intelligence-sharing agreement with Iran, Syria and Iraq to battle the Islamic State, another example of Vladimir Putin expanding his influence in the region after he deployed warplanes and tanks to help Assad earlier this month. Over the weekend, Russia announced it would step up its military support to prevent the collapse of Assad, which Putin believes would be destabilizing.
This, Rubio said at the time, is Putin’s vision for repositioning Russia “as a geopolitical force.”
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Rubio said at the debate. “[Putin] wants to reposition Russia, once again, as a geopolitical force … He’s trying to destroy NATO. And this is what this is a part of. He is exploiting a vacuum that this administration has left in the Middle East. Here’s what you’re going to see in the next few weeks: the Russians will begin to fly combat missions in that region, not just targeting ISIS, but in order to prop up Assad. He will also, then, turn to other countries in the region and say, ‘America is no longer a reliable ally, Egypt. America is no longer a reliable ally, Saudi Arabia. Begin to rely on us.’
“What he is doing is he is trying to replace us as the single most important power broker in the Middle East, and this president is allowing it.”
Such overtures from Russia on fighting IS and expansion of influence into Syria and Iraq are “exactly what the Arab world hoped to obtain from a foreign power”, the Wall Street Journal reports:
Russia’s influence in the Middle East has grown steadily since the fall of the Soviet Union largely because of its alliance with Iran. As Iran severed ties with the U.S. and reduced alliances with Western countries, it looked toward Russia for economic trade and military assistance. The two nations also shared the common interest of reducing the U.S.’s influence in the region.
Now Iraq and Syria appear to be following Iran’s trend in turning to Russia, as opposed to the U.S., as a new patron. Russia’s swift and forceful foray into Syria and Iraq while voicing clear commitment to fight Islamic State at whatever cost is exactly what the Arab world hoped to obtain from a foreign power.
The Russian leader has been bulking up forces and bases in Syria in moves U.S. officials say are designed to safeguard Mr. Assad and his regime. Over the weekend, Iraq revealed that it had signed an agreement to share intelligence with Russia, Iran and Syria, and an Iraqi defense official said on Monday that the country would welcome Russian surveillance flights over Iraq.
Full exchange:
JAKE TAPPER: Senator Rubio, you’ve taken a very different approach to the – the question of Russia. You’ve called Vladimir Putin a, quote, “gangster.” Why would President Rubio’s approach be more effective than President Trump’s?
MARCO RUBIO: Well, first of all, I have an understanding of exactly what it is Russia and Putin are doing, and it’s pretty straightforward. He wants to reposition Russia, once again, as a geopolitical force. He himself said that the destruction of the Soviet Union – the fall of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, and now he’s trying to reverse that. He’s trying to destroy NATO. And this is what this is a part of. He is exploiting a vacuum that this administration has left in the Middle East.
Here’s what you’re going to see in the next few weeks: the Russians will begin to fly – fly combat missions in that region, not just targeting ISIS, but in order to prop up Assad. He will also, then, turn to other countries in the region and say, “America is no longer a reliable ally, Egypt. America is no longer a reliable ally, Saudi Arabia. Begin to rely on us.” What he is doing is he is trying to replace us as the single most important power broker in the Middle East, and this president is allowing it. That is what is happening in the Middle East. That’s what’s happening with Russia, and–
TAPPER: Thank you, Senator Rubio.
Who cares what Rubio has to say? I sure don’t. None of this is a surprise to those with inroads at the moment.
Credit where credit is due for Rubio in recognizing this, but it isn’t exactly a surprise or a leap in logic - the US leaves a void, a Russia looking to reclaim its prominence leaps at the opportunity. The fact the Obama administration was apparently taken by surprise per this article is more a reflection on how pathetic Obama and his administration is more so than a reflection on Rubio’s wisdom.
Marco ‘Capt’n Obvious’ Rubio.
It didn’t take a sage to see how things would play out, even six months ago.
Um, I care. I imagine a lot of conservatives do. He was right, and thus has already made better predictions than the current president.
I currently like Cruze, but there are several good candidates at this point.
It doesn’t take political pedigree to predict what Rubio did. The fact that the administration was taken by surprise tells me that they’re more invested in propping up ISIS than any semblance of regional stability.
Obama and his administration are criminal Islamists using American tax monies and global influence to spread terror.
“...predicting that Russia would continue to exploit a vacuum in the Middle East...”
That has been predicted by EVERYONE ever since Obama started restraining American power, worldwide.
Seriously, at this point, Stevie Wonder could have seen this one coming.
The only variable was, what took Putin so long?
Exactly. Obama admin has been wrong atveverybpossible turn.
“Marco ‘Capt’n Obvious’ Rubio.”
Maybe Rubio will get a few big writers to leave off the “Captain Obvious” part.
Whtever, he already knew due to intelligence reports. As I said, “big deal”, Obama isn’t going to do anything anyway.
Rubio offers no solution, and supported spending 50 million to train a bunch of dentists and lawyers who immediately surrendered to Al Qaeda turning over their equipment. His “expertise” is just parroting Obama, McCain and Linda Graham’s crazy anti-Assad fantasies.
My question as well.
Obama is really upset that his creation (ISIS) and the muslim brotherhood are about to get a lesson they should have been taught a long time ago.
I hope the Russians slaughter them.
obama turned his back on Egypt, destroyed Libya, took all the troops out and destroyed Iraq. Took the wrong side in Syria. He’s a disaster and a traitor.
Great, Marco. We kinda knew that, but ok. Now, get your s**t together on the other issues.
Soetoro’s allegiance with ISIS is about to be exposed to low-information-voters if the best excuse the Arrogant One can come up with is that he was “surprised”. Rubio probably thinks Soetoro actually wants to destroy ISIS, which is naive political calculus.
Yes.
How is he right in supporting spending 50 million on useless anti-Assad forces that surrendered to Al Qaeda? How would getting rid of Assad help stop ISIS and Al Qaeda?
If you think Rubio is smart-—read the Bible sometime and see what was foretold of this region thousands of years ago—
I am sick of these tired Squirrel crap. I want Marco La Raza Rubio to discuss his support for cap and trade in English !
Or his Amnesty Ads .
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.