James Clapper: Vladimir Putin In Syria Is 'Winging This'

[Purveyor]

Source: CNN

By Theodore Schleifer, CNN
Updated 7:17 PM ET, Thu October 29, 2015

Washington (CNN)Moscow's escalating militancy in Syria comes not because of careful strategic decisions but rather because Russian President Vladimir Putin is "winging this," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told CNN Thursday in an exclusive interview.

Clapper said Putin was "very impulsive and opportunistic" as he increased Russian support for close ally President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's roiling civil war.

"I personally question whether he has some long-term strategy or whether he is being very opportunistic on a day-to-day basis," Clapper told CNN's Jim Sciutto. "And I think his intervention into Syria is another manifestation of that."

When asked if Putin had a plan for Syria, Clapper said Putin didn't.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/29/politics/james-clapper-russia-syria-winging-it/

[Volaris]

1. So he (Putin) is following Jr's Iraq example then. Good to know.

Except, Clapper isn't exactly someone I trust sooooooo...

[Purveyor]

4. I know I let out a hearty 'snort' when I read this coming

from Clapper...

[bananas]

5. He's like "The Onion" in real life. nt

[Wilms]

2. James Clapper: Nationally recognized perjurer.

[tishaLA]

3. wrong messenger. correct message.

[carla]

7. Wishful thinking...

Clapper is the one who hasn't a clue here. Putin is obviously cleaning up the ISIS mess, the American Free Syrian Army terror mess, supporting an ally under siege, stabilizing a society that once maintained a semblance of social order and peace and was a force for order in the region (whether we agree or not) and broadcasting and asserting Russian interests in the game of geopolitics, as can be seen in their new bulwark status against Israeli adventurism in the region especially as regards Iran. Seems clear even to a disinterested party such as myself. Clapper is the typical know-nothing that is the norm for government officials these days.

[Hydra]

8. He's downplaying how badly the Neocons played this out

Putin stepped in and casually stuck his flag in the ground, and our favorite warmongers were left wondering what to do now.

Pray he goes home?

[jtuck004]

6. And ronald mcd thinks his restaurants serve healthy food, too. Liars and their lies.

But just like russians sending missiles up to excite their hometown crowd, this is like a signal flare to armchair patriots here. just watch.

[Doctor_J]

9. They let clapper blog from prison?

[Sunlei]

10. So when will Assad and Putin invite back the 12 million people their bombs drove out?

[Purveyor]

11. I can only conclude it will be quite a while considering the current situation on the ground. nt

[MattSh]

12. Are you serious? nt

[Sunlei]

13. yes, I am. 12 million people were pushed out on to the rest of the world. Someone needs to pay for t

that. Why not Assad and his best friend Putin?

[leveymg]

14. It's 4 million, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar should pick up at least half the tab. n/t

[Sunlei]

15. no its not, half the countries people are gone.

[4lbs]

16. That's not quite accurate.

http://www.worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/syria-war-refugee-crisis


from the link:

How many people have fled their homes?

More than half of the country’s population of 22 million has been forced to leave their homes.

Many of them have moved multiple times since the conflict began in March 2011.

At least 7.6 million people are internally displaced (IDPs) within Syria,

and more than 4 million have fled as refugees to neighboring countries.

[McKim]

17. How about the US Helping these Refugees

The US should be giving the lion's share of help to Europe to help refugees, take in massive amounts of refugees and rebuild Syria back to its former glory. Yes, I said glory. It was a beautiful country. For once I would like my tax money spent on building up something.

[potone]

18. Oh it is, it is.

After the entire country is reduced to rubble, American companies with Defense Department contracts will rebuild it. That's where your tax dollars go! Feel better now?