Is Putin bringing the innocent civilians to Russia to avoid collateral damage?
Collateral damage is generally something Russia does not worry too much about. Frankly, if a situation demands the use of military power, I think we worry too much about it also. And that nation rebuilding crap is BS too in situation where the enemy has not capitulated. Folks in the ME understand one thing, violence. And they need to know if our military comes over the hill, we aim to kill people and break things. If we are not willing to do that, we need to stay out.
From what I've seen, the munitions are guided single drops or assigned target acquisition cruise missiles, no pattern gravity bombs.
So Obama doesn't need to bring the "innocent civilians" here.
Of course he is not. My point is that the ruthless Putin, is filling the power vacuum created by Obama. Will Nato minus the North American component be clamoring to resurrect and join the Warsaw Pact for protection against terrorism.