Quote Originally Posted by Gilrandir View Post
I don't deny Putin's current success at propping up Assad and showing the world that he is to be reckoned with. I point at the failure of the ostensible goal he proclaimed. His backing out now (if it really will happen) looks as if the British and Americans after liberating France in 1944 stopped at the border with Germany and said: "OK, we have reached our goal. The tables have turned and the spine of the enemy is broken. Our mission is complete."
Things are different and more clearcut when dealing with cohesive nation states. The occupation of Iraq is a lesson in how ill-defined objectives led by well meaning ideals lead to endless mission redefinition. Unlike us, Putin isn't an idealistic idiot. He has something limited in mind. he aims for it, and gets gone after he gets it.