Kremlin.ru
Dave Majumdar, National Interest: Why the United States Should Exercise Restraint Before Launching A New War in Syria
The Russians might not be willing to back down in a confrontation with American forces.
Tensions between Russia and the United States are coming to a head over the civil war in Syria. Washington has suspended bilateral talks with Russia to end the five-year old war. Moscow has suspended an agreement to destroy 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium that was reached during the year 2000, using especially harsh rhetoric. Meanwhile, Syrian regime forces—with the backing of Russian airpower—are continuing to mount a fierce attack on the partially rebel-held city of Aleppo with Washington seemingly powerless to influence events on the ground.
As a result of the recent collapse of a ceasefire negotiated by Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the subsequent Syrian regime offensive, there are many in Washington clamoring for firmer U.S. action—a so-called Plan B. However, President Obama and his National Security Council staff are faced with limited options. Among the four options that may be under consideration are a no-fly-zone, safe zones, attacking the Syrian air force and arming the Syrian rebels with additional weaponry. But each option carries with it significant risk of escalation or blowback.
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WNU Editor: The author is wondering if Russia would stand idly by if U.S. air power was used to strike Syrian units .... even if Russian forces are embedded. I can easily answer that .... in the eyes of Moscow it would be a deliberate act of war, and they would retaliate, and that retaliation would not be limited within Syria. Fortunately .... President Obama may be publicly making it known right now that he is entertaining certain military options .... U.S. Considering Military Options On Syria (Updated) .... I doubt that he would follow through with less than 4 months in his Presidency. But in the event that he does initiate military action against Syrian and Russian military units .... I will then be blogging from the basement of my chalet in woods of northern Quebec for as long as the electricity and internet stays on.
