OT? A New Cold War

[RN7]

Originally Posted by Raellus

That is possible, but Russia will have to all of that while fighting jihadists/rebels/freedom fighters. That is much easier said than done.

If Russia wants to take its place as greatest of all the "great satans", why try to stop them? Let them deal with what Western Coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan have been dealing with for the last 14 years- a seemingly unstoppable stream of very persistent local and foreign insurgents/jihadis dedicated to their destruction.

Russia is very good friends with Iran, the nation that termed America the Great Satan. And I don't think the Russians will be sending their soldiers to Syria, just enough to deter any nosy Jihadis well away from Latakia.

Originally Posted by Raellus

Also, any Russian strategic assets based in Syria will be fairly isolated and nearly surrounded by unfriendly parties- Turkey to the north, Israel to the South, NATO's Mediterranean assets to the west. I see that as more of a strategic liability than a strategic asset.

The alternative to Russian involvement in the Syrian Civil War is what? More NATO muscle-flexing? Ultimatums? More sanctions? Then what? A tussle between NATO and Russian combat aircraft in Syrian airspace? The place is a tinderbox under a powder keg. You've got Iranian interests at play there, which the Saudis will no doubt act to counterbalance, you've got NATO, you've got ISIS, you've got Kurdish rebels, you've got Hezbollah, you've got a very nervous, very jumpy Israel watching from next door...There's no easy solution, especially a military one.

Russia already is isolated in Syria. But Israel won't attack the Russians as there are links between both countries that transcend the Arab/Islamic-Israeli/Jewish conflict. Russia has a lot more in common with Israel than it does with any Muslim state. The Muslims just buy a lot of their weapons. Israel prefers American weapons or making its own. But what has Turkey or the rest of NATO (without America) got that could threaten the Russians, and would Turkey attack Russian forces in Syria when it faces Russia across the Black Sea?

What can the West do. They could do what Russia is doing on a bigger scale. ISIL is not a particularly powerful organisation and has no support outside of the Sunni Muslims in Syria. America if it wanted could slaughter it and very publically too. However you are right about Iranian and Saudi involvement. Obama I think tried to do get the Iranians on his side in Syria but Putin stepped in and threw a spanner in the works. America really needs to deal with the Saudi's effectively. They export terrorism, have an appalling record on human rights and have been causing no end of trouble in the worlds oil industry with their manipulation of oil prices to harm rising US shale producers and rival OPEC members such as Iran and of course Russia.