Issues Under Fire: Russian Bear Take Swipe At West

Issues Under Fire: Russian Bear Take Swipe At West 


Boldly and brazenly, Vladimir Putin is beefing of the Russian Bear's image. By blunting the West's diplomatic and covert efforts to hasten the demise of Basha al-Assad, President Putin's is returning to the world's stage with a message; "We're ready for whatever you got! 


Were the message just about Russia busting out, this blatant show of push back wouldn't raise a concern, but Putin has built a crew to roll with. China Russia Iran and Syria, hereinafter referred to as CRIS, have found common ground through a common adversary and they're ready to defend that ground. 


Several posts/podcast back, we reported on murmurings at the Shanghai Co-operation Org. of relationship building for primary purpose of reducing the West's influence in the Middle East, while making sure everybody's got everybody's back if and when shit hits the fan. After NY Times reported yesterday that two "Russian naval vessels with marines on board were ready to head for Syria to protect Russian citizens and a naval base there", we figured the fan has been turn on and the shit slinging could start without further notice. 


Not wanting to sound like alarmist or hype artists, we're carefully measuring our reckless speculation. But when one can confirm reports like " last Friday's story of Russian chief arms exporter saying his company was shipping advanced defensive missile systems to Syria to be used to take down planes or sink ships if the U.S. or anybody else tries to pull a "Libya", you gotta smell something a little funky in the air. Can you say shit storm! 


When President Obama sat down with his Russian counterpart, he must have realized the powerful hand Putin was playing, considering the U.S. is beholden to the Russians for a safe exit route out of Afghanistan. Having thousands of U.S. forces land locked in the region with Pakistanis shutting the back door over the drones bombings, the U.S. needs Russia big time. Whatever they really talked about for those two hours, you can bet President Putin felt the most confident in the conversation.

 

But wait, it gets worse.

The Russians are hosting a round of talks between the Iranians and the P-5+1 this week over Tehran's nuclear program. Again, the U.S needs the Russians to cooperate in crippling the Iranians with sanctions until they crack. 


Unfortunately our analysis indicates the Russians are getting too cozy with the Iranians to bend over backwards to help screw a friend. In fact, from Putin's perspective, the West is asking them to cut off relations with some of their best buds.


With the Israelis mouthing off again, President Obama is gonna need all the help he can get from President Putin to assure Israel don't do something stupid like a surprise air strike. That'll surely spook the global markets and send oil prices sky high. 


During an election year, with a stumbling economy, and hopelessly divided nation to lead, Barack Obama is going to need palm an ace or two during the next shuffle. Bluffing ain't gonna do it anymore. Bottom line, Putin has won his election albeit close and corrupt. That is a fact. On the other hand, Barack Obama is just a strong maybe and that is a fact. 


BTW, we didn't erroneously omit China's role in this regional power play, as they're game plan is just as corrosive towards the West. However, characteristically Chinese, their approach is less in your face and more over your head.