Putin’s actions make his objectives clear, but more is involved. Russian ISIS members could cause problems if they return to Russia. But so far, they are still attacking the moderate groups the U.S. has been supporting. A proxy war is developing. Putin still dreams of resurrecting the power of the Soviet Union, but he seems to have forgotten the lessons of the past and the current dilemmas Russia faces
How Does the First Russian Airstrike in Syria Change the Dynamic?
Russia has launched its first airstrike in Syria, not in ISIS-controlled territory, but in Homs in western Syria. It’s very disturbing, but what does it mean? The potential for miscommunication and mistakes is huge. Russia appears to be establishing a military base and possibly a lasting military presence in Syria. What are our options?
What Is Russia Doing in Syria?
New developments are further complicating the situation in Syria. Cooperation between Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime against ISIS presents serious dangers. Russia is reasserting it’s long-term interests in Syria that go all the way back to Czarist days. The step-up of Russian military assets changes the dynamic. What if they DO destroy ISIS? What then? What’s the endgame? What’s our role?
Collective Amnesia in the Immigration Debate (2)
Our victory in the Mexican American War added a huge amount of land to the U.S. and introduced issues of property rights and confiscation. This produced some of the consequences we see in our Southwest today. The Irish immigration following the potato famine led to longstanding issues in our immigration policies. Immigration also became a major factor leading to the Civil War.
Collective Amnesia in the Immigration Debate (1)
From the beginning, our national debate about immigration has been extremely political. You might be surprised by some of the issues about illegal immigration on our border with Mexico and the first attempt to close the border to stop immigration. Here’s the story.
Unlikely Bedfellows in Syria
Syria, like other Middle East nations, is an artificial state. It’s made up of a multiplicity of ethnic groups with little in common and a Sunni majority ruled by Alawite Shias. This potent mix is vastly complicated by the arrival of Russian tanks, artillery, and troops. The danger of accidental collision should not be ignored. The Turks, who control the water supply, have their impact. So do the Sunni Kurds and the Jordanians, who are extremely anti-Isis. Oddly, Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel are on the same side on this one–not working together, but sharing strategic objectives. What a mess!
Syrian Refugee Crisis Backstory (4): Civil War and Chaos
Civil war starting in 2011 creates a power vacuum in northern Syria that attracts Saddam’s former key strategists, who begin working with ISIS to regain Sunni power. As factions and nations take sides based on their own competing interests, Syria becomes fragmented. ISIS uses the power vacuum to pursue its goal of establishing a totalitarian Islamic caliphate. Chaos and fighting touches off the Syrian migration to Europe that we see today. Here’s a bit more detail.https://youtu.be/j7azThPm8WY
Syrian Refugee Crisis Backstory (3): How Iran Gets Involved
How did Iran get involved? Bashar al-Assad seemed promising early on, but Syria’s incursion into Lebanon changed that. The unraveling we see today started there, but went on to engage Iran in bolstering Shia control, with both the U.S. and Israel playing a role. Here’s the basic plot.
Syrian Refugee Crisis Backstory (2 ): Rise of the Assad Dynasty
Where did ISIS come from? Syria became ripe for ISIS as the Sunni majority was marginalized by the Assad regime. The Sunni Muslim Brotherhood believed that Islam was the only answer to Syria’s problems and that violence was the only viable tactic. Assad squashed all opposition, but the seeds of ISIS were sown and ready to spring up when his son came to power. Here’s the story in brief.
Syrian Refugee Crisis Backstory (1): Rise of the Assad Dynasty
How did the migration of Syrian refugees become such a crisis? It helps to understand the bankruptcy of the Ba’ath party, the failure of Pan-Arab nationalism, and the rise of the Assad dynasty. Here’s a synopsis.