Is The US Waging An All-Out Proxy War With Russia In Syria?

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Haraz N. Ghanbari/Reuters)

The US Is Waging An All-Out Proxy War With Russia In Syria -- Geoffrey Ingersoll, Business Insider

Let's call it what it is: a proxy war.

Ben Brumfield of CNN reported that U.S. troops arrived in Turkey today to man Patriot missile systems. The systems themselves are officially NATO property, but the people with the finger on the trigger are decidedly American.

From Brumfield's report:

In response [to Assad launching Scud-B missiles on Allepo], the U.S., Germany and the Netherlands deployed Patriot air defense missiles to the border region to intercept any Syrian ballistic missiles.

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My Comment: After Iraq I suspect that most Americans do not want to get involved in another Middle East conflict. If there is any support for intervention it is to help allies who border Syria .... as well as watching what Syria does with it's chemical weapon stockpiles. But funneling weapons, expertise, and the supplies needed to wage a war .... I just do not see a groundswell of support from the American public (or from the politicans) to do this. If there is U.S. assistance to the rebels it is happening at a minimal level .... correction .... at a very minimal level. For Russia .... the stakes are higher .... but their conflict is not with the U.S., their conflict is against the rebels who are threatening their closest ally in the Middle East.

Russia Is Skeptical Of Growing America's 'Pivot' And Arms Sales To Asia

Communists, Al-Qaeda… China: US To Boost Asia arms Sales In 2013 To Fight New 'Boogeyman' -- RT

US sales of bombers, missiles and rockets to China's and North Korea’s neighbors are forecast to increase sharply in 2013 challenging Beijing’s goal to be the main power in the region.

­The rising arms trade has been predicted by The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), a trade group that includes US defense corporations like Lockheed Martin Corp, Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp, in a report published in December.

Equipping its Asia-Pacific allies has been viewed as a "top priority" for the Obama administration following the re-alignment of security policy in November 2011.

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My Comment: The Russians do not like the competition in the arms trade .... as for their remarks on U.S. arms sales to the Asian region .... this is "the pot calling the kettle black".

A New U.S. - Russia Arms Race?

Photo credit: Wikicommons

Russia And America’s New Arms Race -- Michael Cole, The Diplomat

If reports in Russian state media last Friday are accurate, the world may be on the brink of seeing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) race, though of a conventional type rather than the nuclear arms race of the Cold War.

According to a report by RIA Novosti, Moscow may be developing a heavy-liquid-fuel, non-nuclear, precision-guided payload capability for a new class of ICBMs, which would give Russia near-global coverage similar to that sought by the U.S. under the controversial “Prompt Global Strike” program.

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My Comment: This may surprise many Americans .... but as far as Russia is concerned (from what I read in their publications and news reports) .... there is a new arms race between the U.S. and Russia .... and Russia is determined to win it.

Russia And U.S. Meet To Discuss Syria

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov © Eduard Pesov, RIA Novosti

Russia, U.S. To Seek "Creative" Syria Solution: Envoy -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russia and the United States will seek a "creative" solution to drag Syria back from the brink, the international mediator on Syria said on Thursday after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The comments by Lakhdar Brahimi, who called the unscheduled meeting on the sidelines of a Dublin conference, suggested a new coordination among the major powers might be emerging on Syria after months of sometimes bitter disagreement.

A senior U.S. State Department official called the meeting "a constructive discussion focused on how to support a political transition in practical terms".

Brahimi said he would seek peace based on the Geneva Declaration which calls for a transitional administration.

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More News On Today's Russia - U.S. Meeting On Syria

No concrete Syria plan after U.S., Russia meet -- CBS/AP
Clinton, Russian foreign minister meet on Syria -- Washington Post
US, Russia meet with UN mediator for Syria in new diplomatic effort to end war -- Washington Post/AP
US, Russia seeking 'creative' solutions to Syria crisis, mediator says -- NBC
UN Envoy Says Clinton, Lavrov to Work Together on Syria -- Bloomberg Businessweek
US-Russia talks on Syria raise hopes -- Financial Times

What's Next For U.S. - Russian Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) speaks with U.S. President Barack Obama at a G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico in June. Radio Free Europe

Russia's Putin Welcomes Obama Victory -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election and said he hoped it would have a positive impact on relations with the United States.

Despite Obama's call for a "reset" in ties with Russia, relations have been strained by differences over issues ranging from missile defense to human rights and the conflict in Syria. But Moscow had been wary of Republican Mitt Romney's campaign remark that Russia was the United States' top geopolitical foe.

"Overall the Kremlin welcomes the news of Barack Obama's victory in the elections," Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told Interfax news agency.

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More News On U.S. - Russian Relations After The U.S. Presidential Election

Putin Congratulates Obama on Election Victory -- RIA Novosti
Russia's reaction to Obama's election victory -- The Guardian
Kremlin Cheers Obama’s Re-Election -- ABC News
Russian Politicians Cheer Obama's Re-Election -- Moscow Times
Medvedev welcomes Obama, says good riddance to ‘paranoid’ Romney -- RT
Russians Welcome Obama Reelection -- RIA Novosti
Russia sees hope for greater cooperation in Obama’s second term -- Washington Post
Obama wins by a landslide in Moscow -- Russia Beyond The Headlines
Watching Obama’s victory from Moscow, wondering what comes next -- Washington Post
Russian Senators Hope Obama Scraps Cold War Era Amendment -- RIA Novosti
Obama And The Russians: Moving On To The 'Post-Reset' -- Radio Free Europe
Russia not Obama's 'No. 1 foe,' but Moscow doubts a fresh 'reset' -- Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor

My Comment: As I had mentioned in a previous post ....Russia is more focused on their own economic problems and the growing Muslim insurgency in the Caucasus. Aside from some arms control agreement on nuclear weapons (maybe), and differences over Iran and Syria .... quoting this Russian official .... nothing is going to change.

Is Russia A Friend Or Foe?

Russia: Friend or Foe? -- Anya Schmemann, National Interest

In last week's foreign-policy debate, while many countries and regions were left unmentioned, Russia was invoked ten times.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney defended his assertion that Russia is America’s “number-one geopolitical foe.” He added, “I'm not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia, or Mr. Putin.”

President Obama, whose administration considers the “reset” of relations with Russia one of its signature foreign-policy successes, accused Romney of being stuck in the Cold War mentality of the 1980s.

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My Comment: What's my take ... Russia is neither. If it was not for their nuclear forces, their input on the world stage would be minimal at best. As to what is the mindset in Russia itself .... the priority is to look inward and to solve the many chronic problems that Russia has .... i.e. demographic decline, economic decline, infrastructure problems, Islamic militancy, corruption ... coupled with growing political unrest and general unease for the future. As to what is the Russian view of the U.S. .... most do not care, and those who do care are the ones who want to immigrate to the U.S..

U.S.-Russia Military Relations Soaring

U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, introduces members of his staff to visiting Russian Army Gen. Nikolay Y. Makarov, chief of the Russian general staff and first deputy defense minister general, after a full honor cordon at the Pentagon, July 12, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen

Friendly Foes: U.S.-Russia Military Relations Soaring -- Kevin Baron, The E-Ring/Foreign Policy

As the final two presidential debates turn toward foreign policy, starting tonight, one major divergent point between President Obama and Mitt Romney still not fully explored by the candidates is Romney’s claim that Russia is America’s “number one geopolitical foe.”

So the E-Ring reached out to the top U.S. military officer in charge of the vast majority of U.S.-Russian military interactions, Rear Admiral Mark C. Montgomery, deputy director for plans, policy, and strategy at U.S. European Command (EUCOM), to see what he thinks.

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My Comment: Aside from what U.S. and Russian politicians may say, the days of the Cold War are clearly over. And while some geopolitical policies may differ .... like Syria .... on the military level the tensions are gone.

Is Russia America's Top Geopolitical Foe?

Yes, Russia Is Our Top Geopolitical Foe: Why Mitt Romney Is Right About Moscow. -- John Arquilla, Foreign Policy

The boldest gambit of the presidential contest thus far has to be Mitt Romney's assertion that Russia is America's "No. 1 geopolitical foe." The GOP candidate first blurted this out months ago, and he has been pilloried by the Dems for Cold War-era "old think" ever since. Some believe this view may even undermine the traditional perception voters have of Republicans being more adept than Democrats at national security affairs.

For all the flak he's taken, Romney reaffirmed his views about Russia last week. He no longer assigns Moscow a number -- much less No. 1 -- but Mitt has made it clear that, in his view, "everything we try to do globally they try and oppose." In particular, he cites the Russians' obstructive behavior when it comes to alleviating the conflict in Syria and the proliferation crisis with Iran.

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My Comment: I disagree with this analysis. Instead .... I would classify Russia as a "wannabe geopolitical foe", trying to grasp and relive the "glory days" of the former Soviet Union. Fortunately ... for the world and for Russia .... Russia does not have the demographics and resources to be the geopolitical heavyweight that it once was. But .... and it is true .... they do have the power to make some regional situations worse (i.e. Iran, Syria, etc.).

USAid Ordered Out Of Moscow

USAid Ordered Out Of Moscow As Putin's Protest Crackdown Continues -- The Guardian

American agency for international development has until 1 October to shut its office in Moscow.

Russia has ordered a key US agency to shut down operations as Vladimir Putin continues to crackdown on a protest movement that he maintains was orchestrated by the US state department.

The government has given the US agency for international development (USAid) until 1 October to shut its office in Moscow. "While USAid's physical presence in Russia will come to an end, we remain committed to supporting democracy, human rights, and the development of a more robust civil society in Russia," state department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

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More News On Russia Closing The USAid Office In Moscow

USAID work halted in Russia, dealing blow to Obama’s ‘reset’ in US-Russian relations -- Washington Post/AP
Russia boots out USAID -- Washington Post
Russia puts an end to USAID activities in the country -- L.A. Times
Russia Demands U.S. End Support of Democracy Groups -- New York Times
Moscow forces U.S. to close down its aid mission in Russia -- Reuters
Moscow Asks Washington to End USAID Programs in Russia -- Voice of America
USAID to Stop Operating in Russia -- RIA Novosti
Russia Closes USAID Office -- Moscow Times

My Comment: The U.S. State Department is downplaying this development. What's my take .... just one more example that the U.S. - Russian reset is (very) dead.

Russian President Putin: Romney? At Least He’s Direct.

Vladimir Putin. © RIA Novosti. Aleksey Nikolskiy

Romney? At Least He’s Direct, Says Putin -- Washington Post

MOSCOW — Soviet leaders used to prefer Republicans to Democrats, in the belief that Republicans were tough but more sincere and, once they made a promise, were more likely to deliver on it.

There has been a whiff of that old way of thinking in recent remarks by President Vladimir Putin, even though plenty has changed in Russia’s relations with the United States. Speaking to reporters last week, Putin said he appreciated Mitt Romney’s bluntness in his denunciations of Russia — because that stance lets Russia know where it stands, and reinforces Putin’s opposition to a missile defense shield in Europe.

Sarcastic? Maybe just a bit.

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My Comment: From Putin .... these remarks are nothing new. He has remarked in the past that he believes that President Obama is genuine and Romney is mistaken .... while also stating that he can work with Romney. What's my take .... it will make no difference on who is in the White House when it comes to U.S. Russian relations. Russia is focused on the economy, internal political unrest, and a growing Islamic insurgency in the Caucasus and other Russian provinces. The U.S. has a debt and spending crisis that needs to be address , and when addressed will limit U.S. foreign policies and actions .... including on what they can do with Russia.

Was There A Russian Sub In The Gulf Of Mexico?

Курганов Илья Сергеевич / wikimedia

Russian Subs, Dubious Dangers -- Chicago Tribune/Reuters

The national news media has largely ignored a story that has gotten a lot of attention among conservatives -- that a Russian attack submarine surreptitiously spent a month in the Gulf of Mexico. This is taken by some to prove that Vladimir Putin is a dangerous enemy and confirm Mitt Romney's view of Russia as our "number one geopolitical foe." But let's be serious.

In the first place, the story may be inaccurate. UPI reports, "Military experts in Russia and Europe told the Moscow Times they doubted the sub could have spent so much time under the nose of the U.S. Navy because the Akula is not a particularly quiet piece of machinery.

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My Comment: Some in Congress still want answers.

Why Russia Has A First Strike Policy Against Europe

U.S. Navy

These Ships Have Russia Considering A Missile Strike Against Europe -- Business Insider

The Navy is deploying four Guided Missile destroyers to Rota, Spain to serve as an integral part of the European Defense Shield.

The shield has been riling up Russia since it was announced, and in May the Kremlin came out and said it was not ruling out a first strike against the NATO shield in Europe.

Not long after the strike was threatened a story came out saying that Obama would release classified data on the shield to the Russians in an effort to calm them down.

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My Comment: Russian concerns are not justified .... these ships are incapable of stopping a swarm of Russian missiles if the Russians should decide to launch a missile attack against Europe. The problem is politics, and the perception of looking weak.

The Russian Navy Is Back

Nuclear-powered Akula-class attack submarine Vepr. Wikipedia

Silent Running -- Washington Free Beacon

Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say.

A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.

It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores.

The stealth underwater incursion in the Gulf took place at the same time Russian strategic bombers made incursions into restricted U.S. airspace near Alaska and California in June and July, and highlights a growing military assertiveness by Moscow.

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My Comment: This is a major security failure on the part of the US Navy.