Putin’s Plan: Moscow Handles Syria, US Looks After Iraq

Policymakers in the West had anticipated immigration to bring terrorism to their shores, but the reverse has occurred. Hundreds of thousands refugees flee homes in the Middle East and parts of Africa to escape brutal extremism and failed governance. Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares to intervene on behalf of the Assad regime in Syria while the United States assists Iraq. US President Barack Obama must consider whether Putin’s intentions also include distracting the international community from Russia’s intervention Ukraine or adding waves of refugees for Europe. “The common denominator between the U.S. and Russian priorities today is reducing the Syrian issue to a terrorism issue,” writes Raghida Dergham for Al Arabiya, adding that Putin seeks to organize an international coalition against Islamic terrorism. Obama, in pursuit of a deal to end the Iranian nuclear program, may have miscalculated by assuming that Iran and Russia might abandon Assad: “Both capitals have instead decided that discussing Assad’s fate is misplaced or premature, and that the developments instead require increasing political and military support for the Assad regime.” Russia and the United States should coordinate to avoid missteps. – YaleGlobal