It is not Putin who will cause problems in the ME, it is Obama who policy of not really doing anything needed allowed the ISIS grow to it present size and to take territory so large that it threatens to swallow Syria and Iraq. It was Obama's blundering predecessor Bush who really screw up the ME by killing Sadaam and thereby unleashing all of the Islamic crazies and creating havoc and anarchy in the region of Iraq.

The US confronting Russia over Syria is a bad idea. It rivals the bad ideas of US intervention in Vietnam and invading Iraq. If establishing a no-fly zone was a good idea, Israel would have done so since Israel is already at war with Syria.

It is they that empower Assad. Without them, his regime would have fallen long ago. And it's clear that both Assad mafia and his allies will do ANYTHING for him to stay in power - and concomitantly for Russia and Iran to protect their strategic position on the eastern Mediterranean... And yes - as this article amply documents - in doing so, their hands are dripping with the blood of genocide. So... where are the Western liberals? where is Europe? where are the demonstrations in the streets? where are the Muslim protestors - the same ones that rioted in Paris a year ago against Israel? where are the Sunni protests in Egypt, Turkey? meanwhile, does this mean that the West must intervene militarily on the ground in Syria? that still remains far from clear. Prudent minds would say proceed very cautiously into that quagmire... But US and NATO should be doing everything feasible outside of Syria to harass, thwart and checkmate both Russia and Iran's involvement. While there are definitely risks in confronting Putin - there are virtually none in blocking Iranian assistance. what are you waiting for? Force down a few Iranian transports over Iraq. Give both Russia & Iran a hard time.

Your insight informed by a first person involvement in the events is elucidating. I would suggest, if I am reading this correctly, that think tanks, academia and "interdisciplinary centers" are contributory to the problem we're having in the 21st century of understanding that nothing has really changed. Violence rules the day. "Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force," as Rush Limbaugh likes to say and Rush, in this case, is right. The Israeli and European establishments have, at least since the Berlin Wall has come down, acted as if we have arrived at the "end of history,' as if human nature, itself, has somehow changed. Nothing has changed. Human beings are self interested, to the point of self destruction and manifested at the national or surpa-national level, nations will operate to that end. Until the Arab peoples change, until there is a genuine "Arab Spring," not the chimera that was foisted upon us by a gullible and arrogant Western press, we will see either out-and-out sectarian warfare or the iron clamp of a strongman. After the debacle of the Arab Spring I believe we are returning to an understanding that the Arabs, informed by a religion with a specious claim to peace, are still not able, ready or willing, to put aside their tribal identities and live with peace and progress. The West seemingly does not understand that, in part because of its obsession with a politicized correctness and egalitarian virtue ethic that insists that Arab culture is just like, or the same as, western European culture. This just simply is not the case. John Kerry's statement, something like, "This is not how the modern world operates," a reference to Putin's early moves in the Ukraine, highlight a man, a nation and a zeitgeist, completely at odds with human history and biological makeup. Until the think tanks, academics and interdisciplinary centers understand this and can factor such variables into their game theory scenarios and strategic forecasts, we will see Putin on the ascent and The West in crisis.

Have at it, Cossacks! Pleased at the reality of the Russians exerting a great deal of effort and financing into an ultimately futile effort to prop up this Assad regime. The Russians are fated to lose everything in Syria. Damascus will eventually fall to Sunni forces, and then the real bloodbath begins as these groups begin to put the Shiites & other minorities to the knife, and start dueling amongst themselves for final control. No, Bergman, we are wise indeed to resist being truly pulled into that evil sand box of Byzantine chaos.

just like any pretender to Superpower- status would. He's not part of the"problem". Islam is. War of Islam vs. World is inevitable, Vlad just wants to be in a good place to pick up as many pieces as possible. Thanks to Obama nothing is as was 7 years ago. He's either criminally stupid or criminally subversive. His day in court should be something the American public is entitled to!

"is spreading its forces and influence across the Russia's border with Tadjikistan, Kirgizstan and Uzbekistan. There 1000s fighters from these states in ISIS, and inside these states." But how do u know those alleged fighters near the Russian border with Tadjikistan, Kirgizstan and Uzbekistan, are not from Afghanistan, China,Turkmenistan, Pakistan or Iran?Uzbekis were occupied by persians and Tadjikistans speak a persian dialect... ps: just for the records, Israel is not a puppet.

Except for talking stupid, Obama has nothing but weaknesses.

With the US despicable treatment of the ISIS plague in the Middle East through covert support for terrorists, how could we blame Russia for intervening to destroy the capabilities of the Jihadists?

Before posting, READ - Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution.While the Constitution gives POTUS the responsibility to NEGOTIATE with other countries, CONGRESS is given the entire responsibility of waging and funding wars. In reality, Obama has actually acted illegally by putting any USA military anywhere close to Syria. So if you are unhappy with the USA the entire blame rests on CONGRESS, not POTUS. Note that currently the Republican controlled USA Congress absolutely REFUSES to even discuss Syria. As for Russia, Putin is a dictator and has he power to send the military to die anytime he wants without needing anyone's permission.

america to iraq to remove saddam it was not america interest only but putin the big mind to reset the asad is the russian first interest so . it is putin it is russia

how truthful about obama who said Muslim built USA while he was in Egypt? Simultaneously muslim brotherhood was murdering non muslim.......nothing about him tally ......may be he is the most prominent puppet in the world.