Tuesday, December 12th., 2017
Though Withdrawing from Syria, Russia ‘Is Back in the Middle East’
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Sputnik/ Michael Klimentyev
Russian
President Vladimir Putin paid a surprise visit to Syria on Monday,
where he announced that his nation would begin to withdraw “a
significant part” of their military forces deployed in the Middle
Eastern nation as its long civil war draws to a close.
Putin's
announcement was discussed on Radio Sputnik's Loud & Clear by hosts
Brian Becker and John Kiriakou and guests Mark Sleboda and Rick
Sterling. Sleboda is a Russia-based international relations and security
analyst and frequent critic of US policy, while Sterling is a
journalist and member of the Syria Solidarity Movement, an organization
that supports the Syrian government.
"It was a surprise," said Sleboda. "Putin was obviously headed on the way to Cairo, and then on the way back to Turkey, but the side trip to Syria and particularly to the Russian airbase in Syria certainly was a surprise. As for this announcement, this ‘mission accomplished' moment… we've heard several previous such ‘Russia is withdrawing their military forces from Syria' claims before."
Becker pointed out a CNN headline from early 2016 that was quite similar to the recent one — but Russia did not pull forces out as CNN claimed; they actually intensified their military involvement.
"Russia is back in a big way in the Middle East. Suddenly everyone in the Middle East [is working with Moscow]: Iraq, which the government there, although showing a lot of the signs of independence, was installed as a result of the US invasion and regime change there. Saudi Arabia has come to the table with Russia to sign oil deals and potential military deals after losing this oil price war."
"It was a surprise," said Sleboda. "Putin was obviously headed on the way to Cairo, and then on the way back to Turkey, but the side trip to Syria and particularly to the Russian airbase in Syria certainly was a surprise. As for this announcement, this ‘mission accomplished' moment… we've heard several previous such ‘Russia is withdrawing their military forces from Syria' claims before."
"I think there were certainly enough caveats
and qualifications to Putin's statement that, while recognizing the
significant victories that have been achieved, we should take this
announcement with a grain of salt. Russia is not leaving Syria, they are
not leaving their military bases. There remain significant military
hurdles: significant terrorist concentrations, the entirety of Idlib
governance is under the control of al Qaeda. I think this was probably
primarily an announcement for domestic political consumption, as Putin
announces his intent to run again for another six-year term in 2018."
"It's also a reminder to the Americans that at least the majority
of the fighting in east Syria against [Daesh] is done," Sleboda added.
"They no longer at least hold any urban areas, at least there the
military mission is accomplished. The US no longer has any excuse, not
that they ever had any legal remit for their operations in east Syria.
But Putin was letting them know that it's time for them to pack their
bags and go home."Becker pointed out a CNN headline from early 2016 that was quite similar to the recent one — but Russia did not pull forces out as CNN claimed; they actually intensified their military involvement.
©
Sputnik/ Michael Klimentyev
Sterling elaborated on Moscow's movements:
"It's an indication of an intent. They don't plan on maintaining a large
military force there indefinitely, but they can come back if needed.
The fact is that Russia is not very far from Syria, only about 600 miles
from Sochi, their air base. It's not very hard for the Russian Air
Force to move at least some of their airplanes and pilots and so forth
up into southern Russia, and if needed they can still be called
into duty in Syria."
Kiriakou asked the guests if they believed it possible that Russia
could end up in an quagmire in Syria, similar to what has happened
to the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sleboda replied that Russia was
likely to remain in the Middle East for years to come, but of their own
volition."Russia is back in a big way in the Middle East. Suddenly everyone in the Middle East [is working with Moscow]: Iraq, which the government there, although showing a lot of the signs of independence, was installed as a result of the US invasion and regime change there. Saudi Arabia has come to the table with Russia to sign oil deals and potential military deals after losing this oil price war."
"Qatar, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates,
Kuwait, they're all now looking to Russia because Russia has showed the
willpower, resolve, and capability to back up military force with hard
diplomacy and achieve results in the Middle East — something that the US
and all of their regime change and intervention has not shown anything
with anywhere near so positive a result."
"So Russia is back in the Middle East. They're not leaving Syria, they have no intentions of leaving Syria."