Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd L) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2nd R) meet with servicemen as they visit the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Syria, Dec. 11, 2017.
Jamie Dettmer, Voice of America: Putin Declares ‘Mission Accomplished’ on Syria; but, Could It Prove Premature?
Vladimir Putin confirmed last week he would seek a fifth term as Russia’s president next March — and this week, he kicked off his re-election campaign, not in his home country, but overseas in the Middle East.
With stops in Egypt, Turkey and Syria, where he declared Monday that Russia’s military had accomplished its goal of saving President Bashar al-Assad from ouster, an upbeat Putin appeared eager to stoke national pride and showcase how he has restored Russia’s Soviet-era role as a serious power.
Putin’s re-election is assured — polls show an easy win for the man who has dominated Russian politics for nearly two decades — but he and his aides reportedly fear voter apathy and seem determined to secure a large turnout in March and a big legitimacy-boosting vote.
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Previous Post: Putin Orders Partial Withdrawal of Russian Troops From Syria (December 11, 2017)
WNU Editor: I am not the only one who was/is skeptical of Russian President Putin's order to start withdrawing soldiers from Syria .... Putin’s ‘mission accomplished’ moment in Syria was all for show (Bessma Momani, The Globe and Mail). And now I am reading this .... Russia will keep bases in Syria to strike at insurgents: Kremlin (Reuters). And for those soldiers who are leaving, it appears that they are being replaced by contractors .... Thousands of Russian private contractors fighting in Syria (Washington Post/AP). Bottom line .... his announcement of victory was for public relations and for a Russian audience, but there is going to be no change in the Russian composition in Syria, and the war is far from over.
Update: The Pentagon is also seeing no Russian withdrawal .... Russia not withdrawing forces from Syria, Pentagon says (Reuters).
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