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The link below carries the title “Syria conflict: Russia warns US of ‘proxy war risk’.” Russian Foreign Minister said the following after meeting with Kerry and others: Mr Lavrov said the US had decided on its move “unilaterally and without any reference to the Syrian leadership”. He added: “I am convinced that neither the United States nor Russia of course want any kind of slide into a so-called proxy war. But to me it is obvious that this situation makes the task of co-operation between the militaries even more relevant.”

So it sounds as though we did get the Russian’s attention with this move. Personally, I think Putin just wants to not appear irrelevant rather than to get into any nasty, costly war with the US. We all need to remember the Spanish Civil War to avoid those mistakes.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34685183

This link has more than a dozen additional recent links about the Syria and/or Russia situation. Plan to read more tomorrow to sharpen my conjectures.

Putin irrelevant?
I think not.
He has forged a strategic alliance wth Syrian, Iran, Iraq and Russia. Political support gained with China. Tacit alliance with Israel and Egypt. Working covertly with Jordan which is prob playing both sides. Lebanon I have not yet figured out... Russian jets are now bombing Al Qaeda/ IS close to the Golan where Israel would be very uncomfortable with Syrian jets. Expect the Iraqi govt to formally request or allow Russian combat air to operate in western Iraq, once the Russians have secured positions in central Syria and can establish a FOB perhaps at Kweires AB.
The Govt of Yemen which is under attack by Saudi Arabia and having its citizens slaughtered ( the next SYRIA?) has requested Russian assistance ... The govt of Afghanistan will soon also request support from Russia and the CSTO central Asian republic alliance Putin has built, to stem IS growth
These diplomatic moves and Informal sources ( social media and the like) indicate Putin is a hero in the region, the opposition to the West/USA and Saudi Arabia, hard to say which is more despised by more arabs and Shia...