President Putin has time after time expressed his support for the dictator of Syria, Bashar Al-Assad, and has confirmed that he has made preparations to provide Al-Assad military support. Putin, contradictory to President Obama's views, believes that Al-Assad will be a strong component in the fight against ISIS (the Islamic State). But in order for such a thing to happen, Assad needs to regain control over his people so he can put his resources toward the fight against ISIS.
President Obama has for a long time been stressing that Assad needs to step down from power for peace to truly be restored in Syria. "While military power is necessary, it is not sufficient to solve the problem in Syria," Obama stated yesterday in front of the UN, adding that he is "willing to work with any nation -- including Russia and Iran -- to resolve the conflict." Obama again stresses that Al-Assad must be removed from power and the Syrian people must find a way to live together peacefully in order to truly end the conflict.
Obama and Putin have been playing a game of political chicken: each waiting for the other to side with him on how to handle Syria. Obama is still holding his ground, realizing that if Putin decided to put his resources into solving the problem in Syria, the cost will eventually become too high to support Assad and Putin will eventually have to find a way to withdraw his support for him. Assuming that works, the tensions between the US and Russia will come to an end as the two nations devise a new approach towards Syria.
What do you guys think could be a possible outcome if the US and Russia never come to terms regarding involvement in Syria?
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/middleeast/obama-and-putin-clash-at-un-over-syria-crisis.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/100000003943065/obama-addresses-un-general-assembly.html?playlistId=100000003133407
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Putin has declared Russia the new leader of the global war on terrorism. On the contrary, Obama seems wearier than ever as he tries to continue combating terrorism, as the US has done for over a decade. Putin sent Russian jets went into action on September 30th, in order to aid Bashar al-Assad’s troops and is creating an intelligence-sharing network with both Iraq and Iran. Some question the impact that Russia is really having and say that it is "political theater", however it is still the biggest gesture that Russia has made since the 1970s. On the other hand America is having a hard time in Afghanistan; Taliban rebels captured the northern town of Kunduz which is a major embarrassment to the United States. Many believe that it is Obama's lack of action in the Middle East that is making matters worse, but after Bush's presidency it is understandable that he is being cautious. However, his lack of intervention will eventually have to change. The extremists will eventually gain so much strength that a super power like America will have to intervene. Therefore, it is all a matter of time, and many are pleased with Putin's willingness to step up and take on terrorism.
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21669950-danger-russias-intervention-syria-and-americas-timidity-afghanistan-putin-dares
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