Excellent cogent analysis!

As you say, the only ethnic in the woodpile is the very real possibility that Putin becomes endlessly embroiled in an increasingly expensive war. And to be sure, the US can be depended on to help make that very potential outcome a real one.

And all the reason the Saudis need to keep ramping up their oil production?
Rhrosty.

The Russians will win this war, because their objectives are clear, they have a easy story to tell because the compared to the Islamic state Assad's secular government looks like the good guys. Look at the chaos of the Arab spring elsewhere.

The West on the other hand are essentially arming terrorist. There is no way now for the west goal of a democratic secular government to emerge in Syria. We need to drop our loose alliance with Turkey and Saudi Arabia and understand they are part of the problem not the fix.

Comrade Putin

He too shrewd to get embroiled in Middle East failures. Failures is for mista Obama and little followers' specialty.

Comrade Putin kick butt. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3tiYD9niFY

Isn't that right James?

Bashar Al Assad is obviously popular with Syrians and his is the internationally recognised legitimate government. Western powers, particularly the USA have been vilifying it and supporting terrorists to try and overthrow it because they want their own puppets and stooges in power who will allow their banksters, corporations and military industrial complex a free hand. They particularly want to build a pipeline across Syria to transport Qatari gas to Europe and take some of the market from the Russians. The "US led coalition" has been in Syria and Iraq pretending to fight terrorists they have been covertly supporting. They have no legal right to be in Syria without permission from the recognised government, which the Russians have. The Russian action against the terrorists has blatantly exposed what has been going on. They need to stop terrorists in Syria in self interest. Especially after what happened in Libya. Otherwise ultimate US aims of "regime change" in Iran, former Soviet states and Russia will eventually happen. All this is obvious to those who thanks to the Internet have been able to keep an eye on what has been going on according to news sources from Russia, Syria and Iran especially as well as or instead of lies peddled by Western mainstream media. Note some of the best informed critics of US policies come from US or other western countries.

Hi Mox,

Thank you for that official Syrian regime position.

So demonstrations across the Middle East in early 2011 - the 'Arab Spring' - mean nothing. A quarter of a million Syrians killed in those five years mean nothing. Half the country's population displaced and moving into Europe means nothing. Everybody loves Bashar.

Back to reality - the Russians have come to the aid of Assad to protect their own - and only - Mediterranean naval base at Tartus.

The usual fragmentation of political forces in Middle Eastern countries - secular dictatorship, Islamist dictatorship, and baby steps towards democracy - has degenerated into a multi-sided struggle to grind the Syrian people - and their hard-built cities, some many thousands of years old - into the dust.

Clearly, Assad and the Russians are wiping out those tiny 'baby steps', and will, soon enough, find themselves on the same side as the US and its allies in Iraq, fighting against the worse and even more reactionary enemy, ISIS. Once the US and its allies have contributed to the destruction of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, say in the next five years, it will withdraw, leaving Assad and the Russians to resume a dictatorship over what is left of the Syrian people.

Yep, Australia is one hell of a lucky country.

Joe

Loudmouth

The Syrian people you refer to.

Were they always historically Sunni Muslims.
Or did they overrun Syria at the time of the
Ottoman Empire. The ones overrunning Europe at the moment
Are Sunni Muslims.

Going back in history,who are the legitimate Syrian people?
This question bothers me
I'm not sure we can judge this war unless we know that.

Where did the Allawarte tribe around Assad originate?
(Not sure of the correct spelling of the Allawarte tribe)

Also, it was the Sunni Muslims who flooded Damascus streets
In an uprising. It was then Aasad responded with admittedly
Extreme force.

But as we'Ve seen in Europe it's pretty hard to hold
Big crowds back with soft measures.

I'm not convinced that Putin had made the wrong choice in his defence of the
Syrian people around Assad.

Watching a reporter in Damascus a few weeks ago the city
Was very peaceful and well run. And as one army supporter of Assad
Said to the Reporter. "What do you expect us to do with the rebels?
Send them flowers". He said, we will fight until our families in
Damascus are safe."

First report I'd ever seen from the Assad side of the war.

It's all been one sided before. America always gets it bloody wrong
So I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they are doing this time.