I didn't see this coming:

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-syria-peace-talks-20160314-story.html

So Russia just decided (by which it clearly means Putin decided) to withdraw its military forces, at least the bulk of them, from Syria. Which is interesting as it offers them an easy chance to potentially end the war on favorable terms to a degree, and to avoid protracting a war that was clearly backfiring against Putin's interests in the long term. So now the biggest potential cause of WWIII has been nipped in the bud, moving this from potentially civilization busting catastrophe to merely a catastrophe in a more regional sense.

It's one of those genuinely savvy moves from a man I largely see as a brute that makes me wonder if he learned more from the KGB than means to creatively murder people he doesn't like.

Now, the war might drag on after this, it probably will. Russian aid has been the key factor propping up Assad while the USA might just have been clever enough to wait out the Russian economy's implosion and ending up able to impose a bit more of its own will.

What happens? Who knows. Either way, Syria just got a whole lot more interesting for all kinds of reasons, and good on Putin for deciding for a change to not endlessly waste money on a futile war. If only American leaders could be half as intelligent. 

Comments

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Well, he has largely met his objectives, namely to keep Assad's regime from crumbling, and fortifying his last proxy on the Mediterranean coast. The pieces have been put into place for the next stage of the geopolitical rivalry. There's a lot of oil and pipeline access (http://talk-politics.livejournal.com/1759839.html) at stake, after all.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to that Mission Accomplished speech.

[mikeyxw.livejournal.com]

Mr. Putin says Russia will reduce the number of troops, but then again, Mr. Putin often doesn't do what he says he will. I half expect this to be the start of his ground campaign in Syria.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

In most cases, whatever Putin says, you should be assuming that the exact opposite is true.

[ivankon.livejournal.com]

There are planes. One day enough to reduce and one day to return back.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

If there's one thing for sure about Putin, it's that he's predictably unpredictable. You've gotta like somehow the way he never fails to surprise, and keep everybody guessing about his next move. Just when you think you know what he's going to do, you're left with your chin down. Plenty of people have exercised their quills on him, and many more will. And they'll all fail to understand how this guy's mind operates.

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Oh! Did the Russians run out of money, then. =)

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Well, they did reach an agreement with the Saudis to cut oil pumping which will give the Russians a breath of fresh air, so...