Putin Pulls Aerospace Forces Out of Syria, Having Achieving Strategic Goals
Russian President Vladimir Putin is able to withdraw his country’s air forces from Syria because they were able to save the government of Bashar Assad and transform the civil war, former CIA officer and Council for the National Interest Executive Director Philip Geraldi told Sputnik.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Monday, Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian armed forces had fulfilled their mission in Syria and their withdrawal would begin the following day.
"Russian air power has clearly allowed the Syrian army to retake the initiative, so in that sense Vladimir Putin is correct," Geraldi said on Monday. "The Syrian government is no longer in danger of falling."
In seven months, Russian air forces had successfully completed the strategic mission assigned to them, just as Putin had claimed, Geraldi noted.
"Propping up Assad was the principal objective of Moscow's intervention in the first place, so it can be considered a success. But the cease fire is still extremely fragile and could break down."
Geraldi also drew attention to the significance of Russia retaining the use of its naval base at Latakia and its air base at Hmeimim.
"Retaining the naval and attached air base means that Russia could return its aircraft and support personnel relatively easily if the situation seems to warrant such action."
However, Geraldi assessed the Russian move as an optimistic and confident step reflecting Moscow’s conviction that the Daesh terror group would be unable to recover from the pounding which it had received at the hands of Russian air power.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160315/1036290033/putin-syria-withdrawal.html#ixzz42x1A60vf
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