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Foreign Affairs

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

17. Turkey does not have that kind of leverage over the US.

Reply to KoKo (Reply #14)

Sat Oct 3, 2015, 03:46 PM

Oct 2015

Turkey is part of NATO and cannot do whatever it likes militarily.

The OP is the best deconstruction of the situation I've seen so far; it is too soon to speculate about Putin's intentions, other than that he intends to protect Assad and the coast. I suspect he will see how many jihadis he can kill how spectacularly. Some suggest he will try to take back all of Syria, but I doubt it. Somebody else like Iran might decide to do that, but without Putin.

You have to remember this is still a theatrical war, a proxy war. I find Bhadrakumar's notion that Putin will be allowed to curb Erdogan interesting. Erdogan, like Bibi, is not antagonizing Putin now, where you would think he would be very upset.

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Highlight:

Obamaspeak on Syria: New wine in old bottle [View all] bemildred Oct 2015 OP

Take Putin at his word: Social disintegration in the Middle East is the issue bemildred Oct 2015 #1

I've been pretty much avoiding comment on this issue here at DU malthaussen Oct 2015 #2

Spengler tends to have a thing about civilizational collapse, bemildred Oct 2015 #3

I'm with you on the ecological collapse thing. malthaussen Oct 2015 #5

Yep. nt bemildred Oct 2015 #6

And I share your skepticism about the magnitude of the threat. nt bemildred Oct 2015 #4

Putin�s Blitz Leaves Washington Rankled and Confused KoKo Oct 2015 #7

Whitney is always entertaining. bemildred Oct 2015 #8

"they don't want another failed state on their hands..." malthaussen Oct 2015 #9

With the exception of the pro-Assad team I think they are all butt covering. bemildred Oct 2015 #10

This bit from Whitney that I thought was an interesting reminder: KoKo Oct 2015 #14

Turkey does not have that kind of leverage over the US. bemildred Oct 2015 #17

This is happening now for two reasons: bemildred Oct 2015 #19

Some examples of "casting doubt": bemildred Oct 2015 #21

Angelo Codevilla: Russia doesn�t have its objectives conditioned by lesser powers bemildred Oct 2015 #22

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu says its relationship with Russia is 'good' bemildred Oct 2015 #11

Yes...a bit of a Cheshire Cat smile there from BiBi... KoKo Oct 2015 #15

Israel has large population of Russian extaction and they have power. bemildred Oct 2015 #20

As Syria Reels, Israel Looks to Expand Settlements in Golan Heights bemildred Oct 2015 #23

Very interesting slide show on the Golan Heights. KoKo Oct 2015 #26

Dyer: In Syria, a war renewed bemildred Oct 2015 #12

Russia vows to intensify Syria bombing campaign bemildred Oct 2015 #13

...! KoKo Oct 2015 #16

Yeah, they do it all the time. bemildred Oct 2015 #18

Max Fisher at VOX didn't take kindly to the Kerry/Lavrov Presser.... KoKo Oct 2015 #24

Well, the War Party does not like it. bemildred Oct 2015 #25

...? KoKo Oct 2015 #27

This one: bemildred Oct 2015 #28

Thx...a bit more on Farkas KoKo Oct 2015 #29

Thank you, that is indeed interesting. bemildred Oct 2015 #30

Everything You Need to Know About Russia's Intervention in Syria bemildred Oct 2015 #31