Share from Fort Russ Editorial ~

By: O. Richardson, I. Sinchougova, and J. Flores ~March 14th, 2016 ~

What Success Looks Like - When a 'withdrawal' is not a withdrawal

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/03/what-success-looks-like-when-withdrawal_14.html

Quoting a small part:

“There is probably no figure in the world able to confuse the supporters of Vladimir Putin's policies and strategic endeavors like Vladimir Putin. At the present moment, social media is abuzz with surprise and awe over the announcement by the Russian President that Russian forces would be 'withdrawing' from Syria.

The first and most responsible thing that journalists and analysts should be pointing out, is that Putin has stated that the reason for this withdrawal is that the primary objectives have been accomplished. The second is that this is not a 'withdrawal' of Russian forces from the Syrian conflict in general, but a withdrawal of certain ground forces from the now secure areas around Latakia.

It may also indicate a withdrawal (or redeployment) of certain 'volunteer' type special forces and 'retired advisers' embedded with SAA and allied units in central, eastern and northern Syria. These are less known about, but which might have otherwise been brought up and publicized in media by the foreign backed opposition negotiating team, and at the negotiating table in Geneva.

This last point would have most certainly been a 'demand' by the opposition negotiating team, one which Russia probably would have conceded, because those forces are no longer critical. Latakia is now secure, and the advisers have completed their live training.

But by doing this unilaterally, before bargaining, the opposition has lost the ability to claim this as a success at the table, as a reflection of their own political will and strength. Yet the Russians reap the same benefits, and are seen as reasonable and moving forward in good faith towards a peaceful resolution.”

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