Posted on 03/14/2016 11:03:33 AM PDT by C19fan
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has declared that he is withdrawing the majority of Russian troops from Syria, saying the intervention had largely achieved its objective.
The news, relayed to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, personally, followed a meeting in the Kremlin with Putin’s defence and foreign ministers. He said the pullout, reducing an intervention that began at the end of September, is due to start from Tuesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
btt
A mistake. Border with Turkey is not properly secured, Syrian army is not yet ready to operate on it’s own, without support of our air forces. Soon an additional weapons, supplies and fresh “heroic rebels” will join the fight and the war will return to square one.
Bad move.
Out of money.
Wow. If this is not a bluff, it is a big deal.
Some possbilities:
1. A deal has been cut behind the scenes, before the next round of Geneva Peace Talks (just about to begin).
2. The Saudis have provided anti-aircraft missiles to the rebels/al Queda/ISIS, and the Russians must pull out or face unacceptable losses. The first aircraft (Syrian) was shot down by one just a few days ago.
3. The combination of new Saudi and Turkish committments has made it clear that future losses would be unacceptable.
4. The Russian budget is busted by low oil prices, and they have to pull in their horns.
5. They judge that local forces will be able to hold the situation, and a longer war with continued ISIS serves their geopolitical purposes as a threat/distraction to the West. Winning outright would free up competitors for other activity.
6. The pullout is a deception operation, to lure an attack.
Putin accomplished in a few months, what Obama could not accomplish in a few years. Playing chess with pigeons. So Kasich, you still want to shoot down Russian jets ?
Ordering the withdrawal before he nukes the place.
I think Putin satisfied with having propped up Assad to keep him in power for the forseeable future, and therefore no pipeline for the Saudis. He got what he paid for, and isn’t willing to pay more.
Neocons take note.
Once again in English please.
Putin is a real leader and winner. This will allow us to go in after Trump is elected and slaughter those evil Isis bastards , take the oil and go home quickly without confronting the Russians.
“Ordering the withdrawal before he nukes the place.”
Yes, I agree. They are making room for Iran to move in.
“Ordering the withdrawal before he nukes the place.”
“Yes, I agree. They are making room for Iran (and then Israel) to move in.”
US officials: US has not yet seen indications of preparations for Russian withdrawal from Syria; had no advance warning of President Putin’s decision - Reuter
Clear your guys out of the box before dropping the hammer???
Ding.
The Russian bases will still be there though.
The last we did that WWI.
Odd actually. Something else is going on.
Ground forces, it says he’s reducing ground forces. He still has air supremacy, whether F’n Kerry likes it or not.
Yep...wouldnt waant the troops in the way under certain circumstances.....spooky
or to ensure safety of russian troops....
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