(This image of Russian "mercenaries" is by Vasily Maximov / APF / Getty images.)Things are starting to get very scary in Syria. The American public, thanks to lies from the Trump administration, is under the impression that Russia and the United States are operating together to fight ISIS in Syria. The truth is very different. Russia is there to help the Assad government stay in power, and the U.S. is there to aid the Kurds and Syrians fighting against Assad.
Russia has what it calls "mercenaries" fighting on the ground in Syria. But make no mistake. That designation is just to give Russia some "plausible deniability". Those are Russian soldiers operating under orders from the Russian government (Putin). And they are fighting U.S. troops stationed in Syria.
Last week, Syrian government troops and Russian "mercenaries" attacked a base in Deer Ezzor -- a base where the Russians knew U.S. (and Kurdish) troops were stationed. The attack was beaten back by American air power, and those mercenaries suffered heavy casualties (which were flown by Russian Air Force to military hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg).
Make no mistake -- Russia and the United States are now in a shooting war. So far, this is confined to a small part of Syria. Will it remain that way, or does this portend a wider war between the two countries?
Neither the U.S. nor Russia has a legitimate reason to have troops in Syria. That's a conflict that must be settled by the Syrians. Once both sent troops to Syria, it was inevitable that they would sooner or later be fighting each other. Now, it is happening.
Do Putin and Trump have enough sense to step back and stop this? I doubt it. Both are narcissists who can't admit any wrongdoing or mistakes -- and both would like to impose their will on the Middle East through military power. There is a very good chance that this situation gets worse instead of better.
