Posted on 11/02/2019 8:46:33 AM PDT by caww
Syria is not exactly a great prize to call the country a bloody mess would be a massive understatement.
Entire cities have been destroyed. Syrian economy lost $300 billion in gdp,a decrease so steep it could take over a generation to recover to prewar levels.
The cost of reconstruction could be as high as $400 billion, requiring Russia and Iran to spend considerable capital if they have the slightest chance of digging the country out.
Russians and Iranians are not gaining newfound control. Theyve had control for some time. Moscow's influence stretches back before Bashar Assad was even born. Syrian officers training in Russian military schools since the Cold War.
Syrias war was never Washingtons to win or lose. Compared to Iran, Russia, Turkey, Iraq, and Assad himself, the U.S. had very little leverage to begin with. This is not due to a lack of U.S. leadership, but rather to a lack of interest. Washington has no stake in how Syrians govern themselves internally. As long as the Syrian government, whoever is at the top of the system, is willing to cooperate with the U.S. on mutual threats when necessary.
Whether or not Assad stays in the presidential palace is also immaterial For the U.S. is a booming energy producer in its own right, Syria is a 'minor' pawn on a Middle East chessboard fast becoming less geopolitically valuable in a world where the Asia-Pacific is at the center of great-power competition.
The U.S. national security objective was limited from the very beginning 'to eliminate the Islamic States territorial caliphate'...Its time for Syrias major players to mop up whatever ISIS remnants exist.....Countries that have a greater stake should be responsible for Syrias fractured body politic. The U.S. is not one of those countries.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Throw Afghanistan in on the deal.
Any step out of line, blow ‘em to hell.
Russia and Iran on the Mediterranean? I think not.
It has significant strategic importance, and the people there have been suffering. That said, it’s not the job of the US. It’s also not the job of Russia, but they’ll use the opportunity. I highly doubt that Russia will face criticism for this at home. That seems to still be suppressed.
Russian military dominance over Syria is problematical, especially in view of the Russian military air fields and naval bases there. Basically, these enable Russia to control or at least threaten much of the Mediterranean and also reach much closer to the critical oil fields and oil/gas transport lanes (both sea and land — the latter both present and proposed) upon which Europe depends.
Having said all that, the very most dangerous element in Syria today is the IslamoNazi Iranian military force, which — unlike Russia’s, is actively threatening to take over all of the middle east on its way to invading its socalled “great Satan” USA, etc.
Syria itself? Nobody much cares — as the article reflects quite well. Syria as a military base for aggressive (and crazy) regimes like Iran? Yes, it is important, very very important. That makes it important. Ways and means must, imho, be found to expel Iran’s military forces from Syria (and yes, Iraq) ASAP. (and then to destroy Iran’s nuclear bombs and ICBM capabilities completely — our great USAF can do that well, imho, if permitted to get it done.
Syria itself? I pretty much agree with the author.
Both Afghanistan and Syria were semi-decent places before CIA decided it need mob rule.
They should charge Carter, Bush, Obama, Clintons and Brennan for restoration to start with.
One thing many here fail to comprehend is that Russian control over Middle East means no Chinese control over the same area. One of the biggest blunders of early Putin’s policy was to handle Bush the keys from Central Asia. It caused numerous negative consequences for Russia and US handing the keys to China is one of these Russia failed to negotiate to this day.
US doesn’t need Middle East at this point. It has own energy in abundance.
We will get Iran back soon I think. They will then realize Syria is better off with others.
Iran won’t be pro-American for at least a generation no matter what.
not just one or two to, arguably, facilitate peaceful trade...but strategic deployment
Pretty much, and it'll give us the chance to get rid of the International Communists and Globalists in America now.
The Middle East is where great nations go to die. Read history.
Syria asked for Russian and Iranian help. They didn’t ask for US intervention. Assad is a friend to Syrian Christians. US is an enemy of Syrian Christians.
US should end its arrogant, evil foreign interventions and get the plank out of its own eye.
The horror brought to them by the obama administration.
Well it’s been long known and obvious Putin needs entrance to the Mediterranean Sea and he’s been there for decades without a threat to Europe. Putin’s interested most to run his oil lines as these ‘hard wire’ natin states....and when he gets stopped he just builds around those nations and partners who will let him.
Control of the oil and gas transport is a big part of the game yes indeed.
And to the loser goes Syria?
Pity poor russia.
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