Russia to effectively fight Daesh in Syria: Analyst
Press TV has conducted an interview with James Jatras, a former US Senate foreign policy analyst in Washington, to discuss Russia’s airstrikes against Daesh terrorists in Syria.
What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: There has been a course of criticism of Russia and even accusations that they are not targeting Daesh. How do you feel about that?
Jatras: I think Secretary Carter’s comments about pouring gasoline on the fire are just incredible because of course that is precisely what we and our allies have been doing for more than four years now by giving money and weapons to so-called moderates that turned out to be anything but moderates, so that they are the most horrible kind of militant Jihadists whether they are affiliated with ISIS or with al-Qaeda or other groups as if somehow the Russians or the Syrians are supposed to sort them out when we cannot even sort them out.
As far as a political transition goes, it has been western policy that has been blocking that for all of these years by insisting over and over again Assad must go, Assad must go. At this point I think it is quite clear that Assad is not going to go and that other countries in the region as well as the western powers had better get used to the idea.
Press TV: And so what does Russia’s entrance in this manner into the Syria scenario mean?
Jatras: I think it is going to be decisive. It is early on and there are hazards attached to it but I think the part about not putting boots on the ground is very important. One of the criticisms of the ineffective US-led coalition is that it is an air only activity and does not have any boots on the ground where of course the Russians do have that because they are working in concert with the Syrian army.
Another important point is that both internationally and nationally they are acting legally. They have the permission of a legitimate government to be operating in that country and President Putin got an authorization from his parliament to conduct these operations whereas President Obama has neither.
So I think the prospects that the Russians can do this effectively are quite good and if anybody in Washington had any sense, they will be trying to find some way to dovetail our interest, which are quite a bit less than that of the Russians with the Russian-led effort.
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