The new shock and awe

"Here they come. They are trained, they are armed, and they are motivated to 'get-er-done' - and quickly!"

Get ready kids. Uncle Vladimir is going to teach us how to do it. I am sorry - I should not have said "us". I meant to say our President. It seems that the Russian President (Putin) has had just about enough of this band of thugs who are threatening his buddy Assad in Syria. So as a kind gesture, as well as to secure much needed oil and gas reserves from Palmyra, Russia is going to send in the storm troopers.

Yes, the Russians are now pounding the life out of Raqqa, a stronghold for the Islamic Terrorists. And collateral damage? Sorry - if you happen to be in the way of a Russian bomb, too bad, so sad. Well here comes the punch line. Russia has just conscripted an additional 150,000 soldiers to go into Iraq and "mop up" after the bombing is done. Any person who even vaguely resembles an Islamic Terrorist will be finished. 

What we should have learned in both Crimea and the Ukraine is the Russians don't mess around. They don't dither. They are big believers in "shock and awe". Our President on the other hand, is the champion "ditherer". And while we have dithered over how little or much much we should be involved in getting rid of the Islamic State in Syria, Russia has drawn a straight line from point "A" to point "B". Putin will not only vanquish the Islamic State from Syria, he will also take care of the CIA trained rebels.

At the end of the day, this is probably what is going to happen. The survivors of the Islamic State will move from from Syria into Iraq. They will look at this Russian incursion into Syria as a temporary set back. However, additional Islamist fighters will make Iraq even messier than it is now.

Assad will have all his power restored. He will allow Syria to become a puppet state for Russia. In exchange for the Russian aegis of protection, Putin will not only gain a client state, but more gas and oil, PLUS another warm weather port.

Who are the big losers? Well, us for one. As much as we wanted Assad out of power in Syria, that ain't gonna happen. Iran is also a big winner, as they have very close ties with Syria. Can closer ties with Russia and Iran now be in the offing? And the Syrian rebels of course. The ones who survive the Russians will be "dead men walking" with Assad back in total control. 

Once again we are going to be witnesses to what the world looks like when the United States takes a pass. When the United States no longer "has the back" of freedom fighters. And it is not pretty. Mr. Putin is probably licking his chops right now. First Crimea, then part of the Ukraine, now Syria. So what is next? Who cares. The entire world now seems to be Putin's oyster.