CNN reported on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015 that Russia has begun airstrikes in Syria against what is known to be only Free Syrian Army positions.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee told CNN that Russia is in Syria to support Assad. It is very clear that even though Assad is a murderer and has used chemical weapons against his own people, Russia sees them as their proxies ally to be supported against all enemies, whether it is ISIS or the more moderate forces that the US is supporting.
So what is being seen is a weak and inadequate US policy towards Syria merging with a weak and inadequate US policy that is not working against ISIS and it is creating this vortex and US national security interest are falling down in to it.
The Russians actually informed the US only an hour in advance and told the US not to fly in Syria during their military operation dubbing it as the Russian territory.
Congressman Mac Thornberry said it is very aggressive of the Russians to demand such a thing from the US, but we should remember that the Russians have been increasingly bold over the past few years, not only in Ukraine, but even with the submarine routs, airplane routs taking very close to some NATO forces and some NATO countries. So nothing ever happens to respond to this belligerent and aggressive action.
In response to US President’s comments that may be there is an opportunity to fight ISIS in coordination with Russia or even Iran, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said “I am despair, because basically what that means is that our secretary of State is willing to turn over the leadership in the world to a coalition of Russia and Iran to back up Syria. This is really concerning. What it looks like to me the administration is willing to just run out the clock. Even though they have got a year plus left, they don’t want to engage, they sit back and let whatever happens, happen. The problem is the world is spiraling increasingly out of control and it doesn’t look like this White House is even wanting to do something about it.