Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu observe troops in action during a training exercise at the Donguz testing range in Orenburg region, Russia, on Sept. 19. PHOTO: RIA NOVOSTI/REUTERS
Wall Street Journal: Putin’s Syria Tour de Force
Before: Russia is ‘doomed to fail.’ Now: Obama is happy to talk.
Vladimir Putin doesn’t seem to share President Obama’s definition of “smarter.” Ten days ago Mr. Obama declared that the Russian President’s military deployments in Syria were “doomed to fail” and the Kremlin was “going to have to start getting a little smarter.” Mr. Putin then began sending fighter jets, and now it looks like Mr. Obama is the one who has been taken to school.
That’s the only way to read Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s call on Friday to Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu to explore what a Pentagon spokesman called “mechanisms for deconfliction” in Syria. In addition to the jets, Russia is sending T-90 tanks, howitzers, troop-transport and attack helicopters, a company of armed Marines, and further equipment to establish an air base near the coastal Syrian city of Latakia. Mr. Shoigu describes the build-up as “defensive in nature.”
WNU Editor: This WSJ analysis is correct .... in the past any other U.S. President would be furious with what Russia is doing right now and would be responding in kind. But with President Obama .... a different and far more passive approach appears to be his modus operandi. I think one of the reasons why he is like this is due to the fact that he is now near the end of his term, and he does not want to be in a situation where U.S. forces may find themselves engaged in a major conflict. Legacy is important to him (as it is to every President) .... and being stuck in a major war is not what he wants to be remembered for. Unfortunately .... the perception of him in Russia, China, Iran, and elsewhere is that he is psychologically weak, and they are all now taking advantage of him (and us).
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