Russia, Iran Seen Coordinating on Defense of Assad Regime in Syria

WSJ ^ | 09/21/15

[Enlightened1]

Russia and Iran have stepped up coordination inside Syria as they move to safeguard President Bashar al-Assad’s control over his coastal stronghold, according to officials in the U.S. and Middle East, creating a new complication for Washington’s diplomatic goals.

Senior Russian and Iranian diplomats, generals and strategists have held a string of high-level talks in Moscow in recent months to discuss Mr. Assad’s defense and the Kremlin’s military buildup in Syria, according to these officials.

U.S. officials said they haven’t unraveled the full extent of the cooperation or its intention. “We assume [the Russian buildup in Syria is] being coordinated with the Iranians,” said a senior U.S. official, who said the U.S. tracked Gen. Soleimani’s trip to Moscow.

U.S. officials have said the Russians have been deploying fighter aircraft and attack helicopters outside the Latakia airport, as well as tanks and armored personnel carriers.

IRGC military advisers and soldiers are also deployed in Latakia, as well as soldiers from Tehran’s close political and military ally, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, they said.

[soycd]

Muzzys and islam require strong dictators to keep them in check. We should have stepped up to help Assad early in the game.

[RightGeek]

If this weren't so sad, it would be funny. Russia and Iran support Assad, crazy Muslim wingnuts everywhere support ISIS, and who does the USA support? Apparently the 5 "fighters" trained with our 500 million bucks.

Oh, and don't forget the occasional US military mission against ISIS. Our guys at risk for the preening prat in the White House and his marijuana dream of something or other.

[RightGeek]

Call in the brain trust!

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[Buckeye McFrog]

I hate to keep bringing up the Book of Revelations, but....

[chuckee]

Some Arab Spring President Obama was flakking : Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen. The only Middle Eastern or North African nation that Obama did not have his thumb on, Tunisia, evolved into a semblance of a democracy. The ones he weighed in on personally devolved into the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt until al Sissi took Egypt back from the Brotherhood and Obama then anarchy, refugees,dead diplomats and terrorist land grabs in Libya,Syria and Yemen. Not to mention Iraq. What a mess!