On September 1, I wrote the following reply alerting us to a really dangerous axis emerging in which we had Russian air power flying about in Syria at will. Now we have Iranians and Russians together flying from one end of this axis to the other in effect proclaiming that they own all this airspace. Now we have the French cooperating with the Russians and by extension also with the Iranians. The implications are very ominous and far more serious than posed by Isis.
Here is that reply:
Consider the implications:
Assad is supported by Teheran
Tehran supported by Moscow
Assad is now openly and militarily supported by Moscow
We have a Moscow/Teheran/Damascus axis
The participation of Russian warplanes in active combat suggests that the Russians are in Syria to stay. They certainly will have an airbase from which they can strike Israel and change the balance of power in the region. Expect them to become active in bombing Isis in Iraq as well, thus extending the Iran's hold over Iraqi the more.
The Russians are already being accommodated in a Mediterranean port by the Syrians and the airpower only compliments the Naval element, protects it, and augments it.
The presence of Russian warplanes in the area makes it much less likely that a new Republican president will strike militarily against Iran's nuclear facilities. Likewise, the Israelis have a new dimension on their flank should they choose to strike.
The entire balance of power will now shift toward the new Moscow/Tehran/Damascus axis which will be armed with nuclear capacity in Damascus, or potentially so, with Russian warplanes and very soon on the eastern Teheran edge with the same.
