Issues Under Fire: How Vladimir Putin Keeps World Conflicts Interesting

Issues Under Fire: How Vladimir Putin Keeps World Conflicts Interesting

While much has been written and said about Russian President Vladimir Putin, few have focused on how boring foreign policy, international affairs and geopolitical issues would be without him. Throughout  the Obama presidency, Vladimir Putin has proven to be a formidable adversary for the United States and its Western allies to say the least. Welcoming any opportunity to counterbalance Western goals and objectives in every contested region on the planet, Vladimir Putin has kept the world watching his every move and wondering about what's coming next. 

Despite efforts to sanction and isolate the Russian president, Putin has managed to maintain strong relationships with a wide range of regional partners and others of like minds. With oil reserves Europe depends on, a well trained and equipped military, a nuclear stockpile second to none, Putin's super tech savvy nation has all the resources it needs to push back when the political and diplomatic shoving matches gets started. 

Lets face it, Russia is the only nation in the world possessing the necessary assets, capabilities and the willingness to use them to confront and confound Western interest wherever and whenever a conflict may be on the horizon. If need be, Russia is the only nation in the world that can stand toe to toe against the West in Syria. If fact, Russia seems to be the only nation that's enforcing its will in the most hostile region in the world with little to no resistance. (So far, so good) 

Moreover, Russia is the only nation in the world that could thwart Western demands for regime change in Syria. Before Russia established a serious presence in Syria in support of Bashar al-Assad, the Obama administration was screaming for the besieged leader's head on a platter. Now, not only is the White House carefully rewriting its rhetoric to consider a pragmatic extension of Assad's rule, but its the West clamoring for a meeting with Russian military officials to coordinate activities. Russia promises to keep the West informed.  

From this observer's perspective, Vladimir Putin's Russian Federation is the only nation in the world positioned to further expose dwindling Western influence in the middle east and beyond. Since Russia entered the Syrian conflict, Moscow is also challenging the will of the Obama administration its European allies to invest what it will take to accomplish the mission of neutralizing ISIS/ISIL, etc. The way Vladimir Putin has stacked the deck, its put up or shut up time. 

Bottom line: If the United States and its international posse had no worthy opponent to challenge their global ambitions, there would only be one side to every story told, only one narrative to follow and only one world vision presented. While many find Vladimir Putin's actions to be internationally  provocative and domestically self serving, others acknowledge his tactics, strategies and most of all Putin's worldview, as a refreshing alternative to decades of Western sponsored chaos. At least he's keeping things interesting. Podcast below!