Vladimir Putin has never been shy about his goals. Aside from remaining the richest man on earth (because he’s also the most corrupt), Putin wants to restore the “Greater Russia” that the Soviet Union had, but lost. And he wants to restore Russia to “Greater Russia” at our expense.
After all, it was America that broke the Soviet Union – not so much through the Cold War as through the Cold War’s long term effect on Russia’s economy. The Soviet Union ended with a sad whimper, nothing like a “bang”. Putin’s never forgotten nor forgiven.
As disastrous as Afghanistan was for Russia (we know that feeling now too), Syria has been different. For starters, he has a very willing local client in Bashar al-Assad. Surrounded by enemies, his economy a complete shambles, Assad is in no position to negotiate with anyone. Putin’s patronage – he’s always had Assad’s back – comes at a very steep price.
Putin has built air bases in Syria. One of them, in fact, houses Assad’s chemical weapons supply. That’s the airbase WE bombed right after Syria gassed the Syrians in Douma. The airbase where Russia said to us “Okay – you can bomb this base (so it looks like you’re doing something) – but you can only bomb THIS part of the air base where we let the Syrians hang out; you bomb any of the rest of the air base – where we are – and our planes and equipment? You’re gonna have a problem…”.
Putin also has a naval base in Syria – in Tartus (Russia’s only naval base outside the Russian Federation – think about how important that makes Tartus to Putin). That fact alone speaks volumes. Putin has no intention to ever give back or vacate that naval base. Why the hell would he? It’s just as likely that Kim tosses his growing nuclear stockpile.
Russia’s problem with Syria was that they didn’t control all of it. There were groups – like the Kurds – standing in their way.
Putin – knowing the America won’t stand in his way (because he owns Trump outright), made a cynical deal with Turkey. Erdogan got what he wanted (part of Syria that he could fill with anyone NOT Kurd – a group he hates because they’re 1) sepratists and 2) multi-religious as opposed to just Muslim. ISIS even gets what IT wanted – the means to reconstitute, rebuild and recommit themselves to terrorizing Europe & America.
Everything Russia could possibly want, they got. And the world, yet again, looks at America with disgust – this time for betraying an ally.
It’s perverse that our Main Stream News Media to this day asks “Why does Trump like Putin so much?” as if the answer to that question was truly hard to ponder.
Say it with me – please: Trump treats Putin like Putin owns him because Putin owns him.
Betcha Putin opened one of his best bottles of vodka last night. I bet he savored every last bit of it – the same way he’s savoring what Trump is doing to America on his behalf.