Issues Under Fire: Russia Syria Iran Step Up to Face Down ISIS
While the White House cautiously weighs dwindling options to confront ISIS, Russia Syria and Iran have already committed to the fight. Russian jet fighters and experts to service them, were delivered to Iraq this weekend. Syrian air strikes have been requested, received and welcomed by Nouri al-Maliki. Iran is providing ground support, surveillance drones and supplies. Muqtada al-Sadr has vowed his Peace Brigades will "shake the ground" in the fight against Sunni militants.
With all that military support and cooperation, its difficult to determine how the United States fits in this picture. All the named players have strong relations with one another. Russia backs Syria and Syria backs Iran and Iran backs both Russia and Syria. All the named players have a long history of working together. But more importantly, all the named players have a common enemy; the United States.
President Obama has been calling for the head of Syria's Bashar al-Assad for the last three years. President Obama has been a thorn in the side of Iran from the moment he took office in 2009. President Obama has endangered the Russian economy with treats of sanctions. President Obama hasn't made too many friends lately, but his adversaries are growing closer by the day.
Even if the United States did try to engage the region in any significant way, at this point how could it know who it was helping or who it was hurting. How could the United States avoid stepping on toes without cooperating with its foes? Moreover, do those foes have any interest in cooperating with the United States in Iraq and if so, what role do they think the U.S. should play?
Bottom line: A fight this complicated will take quick, nimble and imaginative thinking. In order to target and neutralize ISIS, the United States will be forced to collaborate with regional adversaries (albeit quietly and behind the scenes) or face being seen as meddlers without a mission.
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