[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I think it is the other way aorund than you thik. Most likely Erdoghan currently learns that he can do little without Putin's approval. The Russian defence ministry is in close contact with the Turks. America is in a weak poosition now toweards Ankara, their sanction thread is a weak threat. Pence and Pompeo have no clubs and sticks to carry when they travel to Ankara soon. Washingtoin is pissed, and relatiosn are quickly eroding further. Moscow is filling the seat the more the more it becomes vacant, its a great opportunity to erode and weaken NATO from within.

What we see in Syria is not just a changing of regional game rules. Its the end of "the West" as it once was known. America is in self-chosen withdrawel. Europe is militarily too impotent to pose as an actor on the world stage. "The West" as a political infleunce and military force to count with, is no more.

Syria has become for Russia much more than just a foothold in the mediterranean. I do not know and am not certain whether Putin has indeed forseen that when he started to play the Syria card many years ago - if he had planned this outcome, then I have to compliment him for that strategic foresight. Well played. Not to our European pleasure, but in Russia'S own Russian interest: damn well played. Shows good strategic instinct. Considering that Russia is under eocnomic sanctions still, and some years ago they already sung requiems for its economy - and today they are stronger than ever before since the USSR collapsed, and have gotten rid of their dollar reserves practically completely, and buy gold like crazy.

The requiem definitely was sung too early.

America weaklens itselkf with Trumpo. Europe ios weak as always, and yearns to becom e ever weaker. They now want to get Albania and North Mazuedonia as new EU members. Not really new members with a net contribution to the EU. In other words: the EU turns weaker.

I think that historians in the future will see Europe's failure in Syria as an important timestamp marking a significant achievement in its ongoing fall into irrelevance.


And then there is Israel. It must really hate what is taking place in recent years. It must hate it.

Most insightful Sky.