Posted on 10/12/2015 1:14:50 PM PDT by Trumpinator
Oct 12, 2:55 PM EDT
Amid Russian airstrikes, a Putin craze takes hold in Mideast
ZEINA KARAMVIVIAN SALAMA Associated pressAssociated press
BEIRUT (AP) -- Amid the ornate walls of Damascus' famed Omayyad Mosque, preacher Maamoun Rahmeh stood before worshippers last week, declaring Russian President Vladimir Putin a "giant and beloved leader" who has "destroyed the myth of the self-aggrandizing America."
Posters of Putin are popping up on cars and billboards elsewhere in parts of Syria and Iraq, praising the Russian military intervention in Syria as one that will redress the balance of power in the region.
The Russian leader is winning accolades from many in Iraq and Syria, who see Russian airstrikes in Syria as a turning point after more than a year of largely ineffectual efforts by the U.S.-led coalition to dislodge the Islamic State militants who have occupied significant parts of the two countries.
The reactions underscore that while the West may criticize Putin for supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad, there is some relief in the region at the emergence of a player with a coherent - if controversial - strategy.
"Putin does more than just speak," said Sohban Elewi of Damascus, summing up the views of Syrians on opposing camps who regard U.S. policy in Syria and Iraq as fumbled and confused.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
I posted a similar article here: http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3347824/posts With U.S. no longer paramount, Russia’s prowess in Syria impresses Iraqi Shiites
Arab Muslims only respect and understand power and force. I don't care how Un-PC that makes me sound. I know people were called "racist" for saying Muslims can't handle democracy. Well you can call me that too - the error is on the PC crowd not the other way around.
PS: Trump for president - enough with the PC crowd.
They only understand and respect force. Being kinder and gentler is a sign of weakness to them.
The Christians are allies with Hezbollah as a defense against the Sunni militias.
Putin is a Fascist and a murderer, but he is a far superior actor on the international stage than anyone we have put in the spotlight since the advent of the Obama admin.
And, of course, Europe has always been a basket case.
Putin is making enormous and lasting impact.
They also see that Obama is out of his league.
Of course it is presuming that the US actually wanted ISIS out of Iraq.
I think many of us saw this, or a similar situation, coming several years ago when the Kenyan pansy was elected.
I like a lot of Trump’s ideas, but I fear he really has no chance of being elected. He will be torpedoed from both sides both before and after the primaries. Personally, I’m betting on Cruz.
I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see Trump as president.
Rush had always said that the world is governed by the aggressive use of force.
The middle east has always been mostly a land of closet homo men that only get away with more weaker men allow them to. That is why they were a non-entity before WW2 when western nations didnt take s**t from them.
{”Of course it is presuming that the US actually wanted ISIS out of Iraq.”}
It’s easy to believe that President Evil did not to get rid of ISIS. He may not just be a Muslim, but a violent Muslim.
The USA is on the side if al Qaeda and ISIS (created
by McCain and Obama and armed by Clinton).
In an alternate Universe, America paid al Qaeda
back for the 911 Atrocities and the GOP has integrity.
Putin getting results while barky golfs...
It’s not that simple. If bombing the crap out them won hearts and minds, Iraq and Afghanistan would love us.
Most Syrians don’t want ISIS or other Saudi militias running the country. Putin’s is the only force that fights them effectively, and is willing to fight. The people are tired of Obama lying to them, helping ISIS, and prolonging the war (frankly, so am I).
This war is really about pipelines, will it be Putin’s, or KSA’s? The rest is just details. The USA could fight ISIS, but under Obama, it won’t.
Putin will.
Syria is a majority Sunni country ruled by Assad's 12% Shia Alawite minority. Of course the Shia-s in Shia majority Iraq like when Putin bombs Sunni-s in Syria.
Yep!
And they have been that way for 1000’s of years.
They still revere Alexander the Great because of how he rolled over them without a second thought.
THE ARAB SPRINGThe liberals' Arab Spring has sprung
It's Fall and Putin's on the rise
He's got ISIS on the run
He's laughing at Obama's cries
No shock to me. I see it most days. People from other cultures believe, act and think differently than we do.
Life is much more cheap in other places than it is here, unless the life happens to be a fetus and needed for parts research.
The arab mind does only understand force. “Lawrence of Arabia” is not merely a movie. It is grounded in fact.
There are no soccer moms in the middle east that count.
And when it suits Hezbollah they will get rid of the Christian “allies”.
Maybe. Christians Lebanon know the situation better than we do I assume.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/12/egyptian-tv-anchor-mistakes-video-game-footage-for-russian-airstrikes-in-syria/
"The Russians did it. Yes, this is the Russian army, this is Russian weaponry, this is [Vladimir] Putin. Yes, they are countering terrorism, truly countering it. Now you will see a terrifying video, terrifying."
"Did you all see the precision?" he asked. "These are terrorists and militias and tanks, as you can see. These are Daesh fighters, and they have some weapons. And see there's this car, but in moments — gone."
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That's the Arab mentality in a nutshell.
The Democrats tell us so.
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