To be fair, with regards to the Syrian issue, as it stands, i find the Russian view to be entirely pragmatic (even if brutal). The idea that this "moderate opposition" can safely transition national institutions, as of now, including the army, is a fantasy.
* If the Syrian regime where to fall, best case scenario at this point, as it appears to me is a Lybian outcome. However, even in such a scenario, things would turn ugly, fast.
* Under above scenario, as regime collapses, vacum and chaos will overtake thats left of Syria. Alowaits are likely to experience an increase in sectarian violance, bordering on whole sale slaughter, as "opposition" takes revenge. In this same scenario, ISIS while more aggressive, will bide its time and wait for opposition to tear it self apart before moving in for the kill. This will be followed by a genocide.
Reverse side of this, as Persian, Syrian and Russian militaries despose of the rebels, Syrian government will consolidate the "usefull" Syria (urban and agricultural lands). This will leave ISIS with a desert, a few ruins ( however important to human history, tactically useless terrain), and a few oasis in the said desert. At this point, Assad will hummer out ISIS out of Syria without too much an effort.
* In this sence, Russian approach is entierly pragmatic. US had first 3 years out of 5 years of Civil War, to try something different. Now, its just too late for the "moderates".
** Ultimately even Israel stands to benefit out of Russian intervention if its successful. It would be far easier to maintain a peace agreement with Assad, then it would be with ether ISIS or the moderate opposition.
*** Deployment of S-400, artillery, jamming technology, Russian ssbm, blue sea navy, strategic aviation and other assets, means only one thing. Whatever the outcome of the Syrian crisis could have been, we are now long past that. We are looking at political dismantling of NATO, possibly followed by a Global War.
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* If the Syrian regime where to fall, best case scenario at this point, as it appears to me is a Lybian outcome. However, even in such a scenario, things would turn ugly, fast.
* Under above scenario, as regime collapses, vacum and chaos will overtake thats left of Syria. Alowaits are likely to experience an increase in sectarian violance, bordering on whole sale slaughter, as "opposition" takes revenge. In this same scenario, ISIS while more aggressive, will bide its time and wait for opposition to tear it self apart before moving in for the kill. This will be followed by a genocide.
Reverse side of this, as Persian, Syrian and Russian militaries despose of the rebels, Syrian government will consolidate the "usefull" Syria (urban and agricultural lands). This will leave ISIS with a desert, a few ruins ( however important to human history, tactically useless terrain), and a few oasis in the said desert. At this point, Assad will hummer out ISIS out of Syria without too much an effort.
* In this sence, Russian approach is entierly pragmatic. US had first 3 years out of 5 years of Civil War, to try something different. Now, its just too late for the "moderates".
** Ultimately even Israel stands to benefit out of Russian intervention if its successful. It would be far easier to maintain a peace agreement with Assad, then it would be with ether ISIS or the moderate opposition.
*** Deployment of S-400, artillery, jamming technology, Russian ssbm, blue sea navy, strategic aviation and other assets, means only one thing. Whatever the outcome of the Syrian crisis could have been, we are now long past that. We are looking at political dismantling of NATO, possibly followed by a Global War.
**