RFE/RL Podcast: Putin's Road To Damascus
Brian Whitmore, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Is Russia exporting hybrid warfare and frozen conflicts to the Middle East?
Defying the West, Russia puts boots on the ground in Syria in an apparent effort to prop up the tottering regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin and its surrogates hint that Vladimir Putin will offer the West a grand bargain when he speaks later this month at the United Nations General Assembly.
With Russia bogged down in a military and diplomatic quagmire in Ukraine, and with its economy reeling from sanctions and low oil prices, Putin has decided it's time to change the subject.
What's the Kremlin's game plan in Syria? Is there a master strategy? Or is this all desperate improvisation?
On the latest Power Vertical Podcast, we discuss Putin's Syrian gambit and its ramifications.
Joining me are Mark Galeotti, a professor at New York University, an expert on Russia's security services, and author of the blog In Moscow's Shadows; Alexander Clarkson, a professor at King's College in London and a frequent commentator on post-Soviet affairs; and Russian foreign affairs analyst Vladimir Frolov, president of the LEFF Group.
Enjoy...
Podcast: Putin's Road To Damascus
Comments
There was an interesting tidbit in the podcast---that in fact right now there are three Sunni Armies and the emphasis was placed on the word "armies" that are rivaling IS under the banner of protecting Syria from foreign invaders ie the Iranians.
In some aspects the end game is upon Assad and the Russians know it thus their being now in Syria.
An equally interesting article---that goes along with the podcast.
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/syria-the-right-salafis…?
September 14, 2015
Syria: The Right Salafis Can Make All the Difference
Really worth listening to as the three individuals are very well versed in Russian motives and drivers and what Putin is in fact doing--both challenging Obama and establishing themselves as the new superpower.
The key is the Russian deployment of fighter aircraft and ground attack fighters and copters---the first time this has every happened--this is the serious piece of news on Putin's move into Syria.
Disagree with the numbers that have been deployed as it appears that the end force will be about 2 to 3 Russian brigades--airborne, marines and Spetsnaz.
AND they have already taken part in ground combat operations--thus not really a train and equipment mission any longer.