President Obama said Friday there will be a “long discussion” involving Russia’s move to provide military assistance to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. While the assistance may seem modest — 200 naval infantrymen, modular housing for 1,500 troops, howitzers, a short-range guided-missile controller and a dozen armored vehicles according to the Pentagon — it’s seen as another audacious gesture by Russian president Vladimir Putin. There is concern that Putin is creating facts on the ground similar to the situation in Ukraine with Washington unable, or unwilling, to confront Moscow. And there are those who suggest Russia should take note of history and its unsuccessful invovlement in Afghanistan? There are plenty of suggestions for all sides on how to stop the war in Syria.
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Triangulation: Russia, Syria and the United States
Peril and Opportunity: The Nuclear Deal and the Expansion of Iranian Influence
The U.S. needs a strategic partner in the region that is not a non-state actor, and with the rise of ISIS, Iran is seemingly the only regional player with enough vested interests to ensure a lasting presence to combat the growing threat. Prior to the signing of the nuclear deal, the U.S. and Iran demonstrated a mutual interest, defeating ISIS. The deal strengthens this partnership by giving Iran what it wanted, a nuclear program, and what the U.S. needed- a strong regional player.
Obama’s Trip to Africa Changes a Narrative
The highlight of Obama’s trip to Africa will be a summit on how to support entrepreneurs. US support for start-up businesses reflects a different approach to lifting the continent.
Obama Travels to Africa with Mixed Ratings
The president’s first trip to Africa in 2009 was a single stop in Ghana. It left some African’s asking if they were being abandoned by Obama, whose father’s birthplace is in Kenya. This visit, his third, begins in Kenya and continues in Ethiopia, the headquarters of the African Union. Despite “Obama-mania,” some are dismayed the president will be meeting with two of Africa most controversial – and divisive – leaders.
Other People’s Armies
Wary of the high costs of war (as illustrated by the unhappy interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan he was elected to end), a central principle of Obama’s plan in this regard has been something that could be characterized as “Other People’s Armies”…