It’s not just Obama... the US government has thrown trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives into the Middle East since Carter only creating chaos and mayhem while (intentionally or not) strengthening mostly the wrong sides. In any case we have nothing positive to show for after decades of interventionism in the region.
The Russians (unlike the Soviets then or the US recently) have a rather pragmatic outlook, not ideologically driven, are no-nonsense negotiators and ready to kick rears when really necessary. They may well be much more successful than the US was.
Good Luck to ‘em. We might benefit from this in the long run.
The big difference: Russia does what it considers it’s actual national interest. The US is notoriously pushed around by foreign-controlled lobbies and “think tanks”.
Trump ought to keep out as much as possible and let Putin handle it.
>>”The big difference: Russia does what it considers it’s actual national interest. The US is notoriously pushed around by foreign-controlled lobbies and “think tanks”.”<<
You may be right.. certainly for foreign lobbies, and ‘donations’.
Also think the US as a rule tends to take a more short-term approach to foreign policy & gains, without carefully considering the longer-term implications and consequences. The Russians and the Chinese tend to think more long term, for their national interests too.