Courtesy of Mish.
After warning Russia on numerous occasions that Putin did not know what he was getting into and that his help was not welcome, Putin declared mission accomplished in Syria and announced Russia would pull all of its troops.
President Obama should be elated since this is precisely what the US asked, but the US state department had no response. Once again the Obama administration was caught like a deer in headlights.
Meanwhile, Al Qaeda rebels seized bases, stole weapons including a tank and anti-tank missiles, and arrested US-backed troops.
US intelligence? Where is it?
Surprise! Surprise! Putin Seeks Peace Talks
Please consider Putin Orders Russian Forces to Start Pulling Out of Syria.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered his armed forces to start pulling out of Syria on Tuesday after a six-month campaign, saying that they had largely met their objectives and it was time to focus on peace talks.
Speaking at a meeting with Sergei Shoigu, minister of defence, and Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, Mr Putin said that his objectives had “overall been fulfilled”, adding: “Therefore I order the ministry of defence to start the pullout of the basic part of our military group from the Syrian Arab Republic.”
The Russian announcement appeared to take much of the Obama administration by surprise.
A regional diplomat who is close to Russia and the Syrian regime added: “Everyone was shocked . . . I’m 100 per cent sure the regime didn’t know about this before today.”
The diplomat added: ?“We have to see how much they pull out in reality… It makes sense only if the[y] are dead certain they are going to make a deal in Geneva. So I think we are either going to have a sustainable deal soon in Geneva, or this is just theatre.
Moscow’s announcement also throws a spotlight on Mr Assad. According to Russian and foreign officials familiar with Moscow’s Syria diplomacy, Russia has been frustrated that the Syrian president has not been more flexible in accommodating efforts at a political solution of the conflict.
Al Qaeda Rebels Seize US Weapons
In yet another humiliating defeat for the war-mongers, neocons, the administration, and others including Hillary who backed giving weapons to “moderate” rebels …. Al-Qaeda Attacks US-Backed Syrian Rebels.
