Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Real Reason Russia Is ‘Helping’ Syria
TIME ^ | 30 Sep 15 | Timothy Snyder

Posted on 10/01/2015 4:51:02 AM PDT by elhombrelibre

Confused about Putin's motives? Look at Ukraine

Eighteen months ago, when Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, confusion prevailed in the West. Today, as Russia sends troops, armor, and aircraft to Syria, we are once again perplexed. On Monday President Vladimir Putin provided the explanation: Russia’s intervention is aimed to defeat ISIS and reduce the flow of refugees to Europe. A review of the last major Russian intervention, in Ukraine, might help us to evaluate this claim.

The superficial links between the two conflicts are obvious. For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, a ceasefire is holding. This has allowed Moscow to send special forces from Ukraine to Syria. The naval base in Crimea is now used to project Russian power southwards.

The deeper connection is Russian doctrine. Authoritarian leaders are legitimate, while popular resistance is not. President Putin’s claim to oppose Islamic terrorism is true enough. But he also opposes, with equal fervor and greater determination, secular democrats in his own country and in Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine not to halt a “military coup,” as President Putin rather oddly claimed on Monday, but to hinder a democratic movement by military action. In Syria, Russia has helped and presumably will continue to help Assad repress all resistance, not just the Islamicist variety.

(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: putin; russia; syria
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

1 posted on 10/01/2015 4:51:02 AM PDT by elhombrelibre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

Obama has given Iraq to the Caliphate, and Syria to Putin ...

after Putin threatened to blackmail Obama’s sorry corrupt ass with Hillary’s e-mails ...


2 posted on 10/01/2015 4:55:40 AM PDT by Patton@Bastogne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Patton@Bastogne

you dont think putin will have his eyes on Iraq down the road?

i dont know. depends on how serious he is about crushing ISIS, i guess.


3 posted on 10/01/2015 5:00:42 AM PDT by dp0622
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Patton@Bastogne

You are more right than we will probably ever know.


4 posted on 10/01/2015 5:06:42 AM PDT by Cats Pajamas (Romans 1:18-32 ..............God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

Interesting theory, but I think it explains only part of Putin’s reasons for going into Syria


5 posted on 10/01/2015 5:09:36 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Patton@Bastogne

Let Putin go and do it. Keep Assad in power. I hope he humiliates hell out of Obama.


6 posted on 10/01/2015 5:16:06 AM PDT by agincourt1415 (Trump-Cruz 2016 the Dream Ticket)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre
The superficial links between the two conflicts [Ukraine and Syria] are obvious. For the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, a ceasefire is holding. This has allowed Moscow to send special forces from Ukraine to Syria. The naval base in Crimea is now used to project Russian power southwards.

I will invade Ukraine, Syria or wherever I choose ... and you will do nothing about it. You are my Boehner/McConnell. Understood?

7 posted on 10/01/2015 5:18:27 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

Tim rather misses the more obvious point of Putin’s interest in Syria.

But, then, so has the rest of the media.

PUTIN WANTS TO MAINTAIN ACCESS TO WARM WATER PORTS.


8 posted on 10/01/2015 5:18:34 AM PDT by G Larry (Vote Hillary! Pro-Abortion Socialist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Servant of the Cross

Putin:

“I’m your huckleberry.”


9 posted on 10/01/2015 5:19:22 AM PDT by G Larry (Vote Hillary! Pro-Abortion Socialist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

The real reason Putin is propping up Assad is to prevent a planned pipeline from the Gulf States to Europe. Assad stands in their way.


10 posted on 10/01/2015 5:20:19 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre
There is an important question that must be answered regarding the possibility of good government. As Hamilton intoned in Federalist 1:

It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.

It seems "reflection and choice" are rare notions in that part of the world.

11 posted on 10/01/2015 5:22:39 AM PDT by McBuff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

here’s an alternative theory: Putin is attempting to control a much larger slice of the oil and natural gas pie so that, ultimately, he can put an end to petrodollar hegemony which would leave the west devastated and him as master of the universe.


12 posted on 10/01/2015 5:24:06 AM PDT by RC one (....and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Ukraine, Syria and Libya. Know what these three countries have in common?

He sure loves to start wars.

13 posted on 10/01/2015 5:25:02 AM PDT by McGruff (Trump-Cruz 2016. Make America Great Again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dp0622
you dont think putin will have his eyes on Iraq down the road?

Terrorism is just a cover story for Putin taking over the middle east to control world oil and gas like OPEC did.

14 posted on 10/01/2015 5:27:17 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: mountainlion

I wonder if he thinks he has 14 months before a real leader might take office.

But didn’t he take Georgia while Bush was in? was there anything we could have done?


15 posted on 10/01/2015 5:32:04 AM PDT by dp0622
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

Time magazine exists..?


16 posted on 10/01/2015 5:35:07 AM PDT by gaijin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Patton@Bastogne
"Obama has given Iraq to the Caliphate, and Syria to Putin ... after Putin threatened to blackmail Obama’s sorry corrupt ass with Hillary’s e-mails ..."

I think you have more truth there then we could possibly imagine...

17 posted on 10/01/2015 5:36:33 AM PDT by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: McBuff

Soviets were masters of deception and miss-information. Their world-wide network of Manchurian operatives skillfully manage useful idiots for their purpose; unilateral surrender. Putin deceives behind the curtain, using his tools (BHO et al)


18 posted on 10/01/2015 5:36:51 AM PDT by Broker (Stop Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: gaijin

Which one of those 3 Countries isn’t lost?


19 posted on 10/01/2015 5:37:14 AM PDT by scooby321
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: elhombrelibre

Syria boarders the Caucuses, historically part of the Soviet Union. If Russia’s actions in Syria foment strife/revolution/uprising in the Caucuses (remember this is where zealous Chechen Muslims live), that will be the excuse Putin needs to again occupy the Caucuses.

Putin will reassemble the Soviet Union now extending continuously (geographically) through Syria right to the boarder of Israel.


20 posted on 10/01/2015 5:42:32 AM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson