MARCH 30, 2016 : Putin’s Attack Helicopters and Mercenaries Are Winning the War for Assad

foreignpolicy.com ^ | MARCH 30, 2016 | JAMES MILLER

[Trumpinator]

Putin’s Attack Helicopters and Mercenaries Are Winning the War for Assad

Taking advantage of a ceasefire, the Russian strongman is doubling down in Syria — not withdrawing.

BY JAMES MILLER MARCH 30, 2016

“The notion that somehow Russia is in a stronger position now, in Syria or in Ukraine, than they were before they invaded Ukraine or before he had to deploy military forces to Syria is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of power in foreign affairs or in the world generally. Real power means you can get what you want without having to exert violence,” the U.S. president said.

Yet there was Putin, proudly proclaiming the opposite. According to him, Russia could draw down its mission in Syria because it had achieved its goals. The White House, and the U.S. intelligence community, appeared completely surprised at the announcement of Russia’s drawdown. Once again, Vladimir Putin had defied American expectations and seemingly came out on top.

Putin’s announcement was filled with lies and distortions, but one glaring truth underscored his words — unlike Bush’s now-infamous declaration from the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, the Russian president indeed may have accomplished his mission.

[BeadCounter]

If ISIS bombed that Russian airliner, Russia should have attacked the heck out of ISIS but they didn’t. Big phonies.

Russia and Assad have barely laid a glove on ISIS if not being outright allies.

“The “Islamic State” advance once again in Yarmouk camp in the capital Damascus”

http://www.syriahr.com/en/2016/04/23/the-islamic-state-advance-once-again-in-yarmouk-camp-in-the-capital-damascus/

Real good job Russia; ISIS advancing in Damascus. You are very powerful.

[IDontLikeToPayTaxes]

Bush’s invasion of Iraq was a disaster and a piece of stupidity from the get-go. Haggling over what he meant by doing a photo op under a “mission accomplished” sign, is irrelevant.

Well said.

That fight was lost years ago. It doesn't matter what he meant.

The "Mission Accomplished" banner and photo op was yet another example of the Bush admin's incompetence, carelessness, and detachment.

Bush and his admin knew that we would have forces in Iraq for years to come, and yet the President himself did a photo op with that Mission Accomplished banner.

The Bush presidency was a disaster and he and his admin just didn't care.

[Mr. Jeeves]

"Real power means you can get what you want without having to exert violence,” the U.S. president said.

Real power means you can get what you want through the implied threat of violence, without having to actually execute it. As Obama knows well, since he has done this to American citizens with his IRS and health care system.

[BeadCounter]

Bush did bad in invading Iraq maybe.

But Russia’s puppet Assad helped Jihadis have free reign to attack US troops, Russia and Assad are just as responsible for any disasters in Iraq.

[WilliamIII]

“Bush inflicted a grave wound to Islam by setting Iraq free”

What do you smoke? Saddam was a secular dictator who killed Islamic jihadists. When Bush took him out, the jihadists ran wild around Iraq, killing Christians by the thousands. and the new government was made up of Shiites who had been in exile, in Iran. Iraq suddenly became Iran’s closest ally. And Iraq’s new constitution pledged itself to Sharia law.

[Bogie]

Dono what they are thinking, but a big de facto yes, you are spot on.

As they say, "The proof is in the pudding."

[HLPhat]

So which candidate for the Soviet Communists is Manifort planing on stumping for in Syria?

[JimRed]

There are no “good guys” in that fight. Let ‘em kill each other!

[JimRed]

while Israel plots with Russia to try and keep Assad in place and overthrow Iran, because the current regime in the USA has betrayed Israel.

[HLPhat]

>>because the current regime in the USA has betrayed Israel

The net result of that is the empowerment of Russia and an unprecedented Soviet presence in the ME.

Comrade Chairman Flex-O-bumble’s flexible inaction in action.

[Trumpinator]

Anyone the US supports in Syria is a Sunni jihadi scumbag. Are you one?

[MinorityRepublican]

Saddam was a secular dictator who killed Islamic jihadists. When Bush took him out, the jihadists ran wild around Iraq, killing Christians by the thousands. and the new government was made up of Shiites who had been in exile, in Iran. Iraq suddenly became Iran’s closest ally. And Iraq’s new constitution pledged itself to Sharia law.

If CIA had any influence today, they would back a clone of Saddam to stabilize Iraq today.

[Bulgaricus1]

THis was NOT stupid of Bush! I remember this well. The msm press had been hounding him for months to declare that we won the war. When he did, they immediately jumped all over him. He was set up.

[Trumpinator]

Bush was a moron.

[HLPhat]

>>Anyone the US supports in Syria is a Sunni jihadi scumbag.

So which pro-Soviet Communist is Manafort going to campaign for there again?

Demoralization - Check.
Destabilization- Check.

What time is the crISIS, Comrade?

[Trumpinator]

Assad is a great candidate - kept the Sunnis down as it should be.

[taxcontrol]

100% spot on

[Jeeper]

Absolutely correct!! It’s a shame too few Conservatives are aware of this fact or simply don’t care.

The MSM knew but were all too happy to lie about the real reason it was put up.

To those who point out that Bush didn’t stand up to his many critics who used inaccurate and outright false accusations to smear him you do have a valid argument.

However, that doesn’t change why the “mission Accomplished” sign was put up. Gen. Franks spelled it out very clearly in his book “American Soldier”.