Russia's Syrian Trap For Obama ... J. D. Longstreet

Russia's Syrian Trap For Obama
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
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The love/hate relationship between Russia and the US has been has been a back and forth phenomenon since the US kicked Russia out of the Northwestern territory and off the west coast. 

Yes, Russia actually had colonies in what is today America as far back as 1733.  They had colonized territory reaching from Alaska to California and named in Russian America or "Russkaya Amerika."  Oh, did I mention they had a toe hold in Hawaii, too.  Yep, sure did.  From 1814 to 1817 Russia operated out of their own post called Fort Elizabeth in Hawaii.

The long and the short of it is -- between the British and the young country called America -- Russia was eventually pushed north and with the purchase of Alaska by the Americans -- out of the northwestern sector of the North American continent.  After Alaska was sold to the U.S. in 1867, for $7.2 million (2 cents per acre) (total $120 million in today's terms), all the holdings of Russia in North America were gone.

Maybe that 2 cents per acre has grated on Russia ever since.  Maybe not.  But for some reason Russia finds it impossible to get along with America for very long.

It would appear the latest iteration of Russia's hate for America is taking shape in Syria.  And, as is always the case when America and Russia collide -- it is dangerous.

Currently Russia and America have narcissists at the helms of both countries -- Obama in America and Putin in Russia.  Both are would-be dictators. Putin, in Russia, will probably be successful.  Obama, in America, will be tossed out of office on his (r)ear.

However, we have a situation in the interim that could easily cost lives on both sides.

Syria is a mess.  The Obama regime (OUR narcissist) for some reason yet to be clearly defined to the American people seems to have some sort of vested interest in seeing that the Assad regime in Syria is dumped and a purely Islamic government is installed to rule Syria under Sharia/Islamic law. Now, Obama is never going to admit that, but, all things considered, that is the most likely outcome if, and when, Assad is shown the door -- or taken out the door on a slab.

Russia does not want to lose its warm water port privileges in Syria and it sure as heck does not want to lose such a valued customer for Russian arms, etc.  Plus, the Syrian situation allows Putin (THEIR narcissist) a shot at the world stage where he can flex is muscles in the spotlight for all the world to see.  He just LOVES that!

Putin is not about to miss the opportunity to give Obama an opened-palm slap right across the cheeks and he sees the Syrian situation as his means to accomplish that.

On July tenth we learned the following from the New York Times:  "Russia said on Tuesday that it had dispatched a flotilla of 11 warships to the eastern Mediterranean, some of which would dock in Syria. It would be the largest display of Russian military power in the region since the Syrian conflict began almost 17 months ago. Nearly half of the ships were capable of carrying hundreds of marines."   
SOURCE:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/world/middleeast/russia-sends-warships-on-maneuvers-near-syria.html?_r=1

The NYT went on to say:  "But the unusually large size of the force announced on Tuesday was considered a message, not just to the region but also to the United States and other nations supporting the rebels now trying to depose Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad."

How very astute of the NYT.

Indeed, Tsar Putin's navy IS a message -- to Obama.

Still stinging over being forced out of Afghanistan by US backed Afghan forces, Russia's Putin sees an opportunity for a little Russian pay-back and he is laying it on very thickly. 

Putin is a punk.  A former KGB officer, he is skilled at what he is doing.  Obama is, well, frankly, I don't know WHAT he is beyond being a socialist/Marxist community organizer who would dearly love to make himself dictator of America.  I don't think he has thought much beyond that.  Putin doesn't think so, either.  That's why he is so sure he can make Obama look like a fool in the Syrian Situation.

My money is on Putin.

It is clear to Putin that Obama is in over his head in foreign affairs. It would seem that Putin and American conservatives arrived at the same conclusion rather a while ago, and while American conservatives have to wait for the election in November to do something about it, Putin has no such constraints. Thus, the Russian armada sailing into Syrian waters right under the noses of Obama's American flotilla. 

Our due diligence would be sorely lacking if we did not note that a third and even fourth party involved in the Syrian imbroglio is lurking in the political shadows.  Iran and -- Iran's client state Iraq -- have now been established with bona-fides from, whom else(?) -- the United Nations.

With Iran heavily indebted to, and influenced by, Russia, and with Iraq heavily indebted to, and influenced by, Iran, it is immediately clear which side has the most, er, influence in any negotiations the UN might actually manage to initiate. 

For the US -- Syria is a set-up, a tiger pit, a trap.  Unlike most traps, this one has huge flashing neon-like signs warning the US of its dangers.  But -- with America's boy-king, Obama, fixated on securing reelection for a second shot at fundamentally changing America into a western Socialist/Marxist dung heap, there is every reason for Americans to worry that we will soon be entangled in yet another Middle Eastern Islamic blood feud in which both sides hate us before, during, and after the dust settles.

Hopefully, a President Romney will exercise some adult reasoning and restraint and bring America's Middle Eastern adventures to a screeching halt.

J. D. Longstreet