Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Amid Russian Airstrikes, a Putin Craze Takes Hold in Mideast

A Syrian woman kisses a poster of Russian President Vladimir
Putin during a pro-Syrian government protest in March 2012
in font of the Russian Embassy in Damascus.
THE JAPAN TIMES: BEIRUT – Amid the ornate walls of Damascus’ famed Omayyad Mosque, preacher Maamoun Rahmeh stood before worshippers last week, declaring Russian President Vladimir Putin a “giant and beloved leader” who has “destroyed the myth of the self-aggrandizing America.”

Posters of Putin are popping up on cars and billboards elsewhere in parts of Syria and Iraq, praising the Russian military intervention in Syria as one that will redress the balance of power in the region.

The Russian leader is winning accolades from many in Iraq and Syria, who see Russian airstrikes in Syria as a turning point after more than a year of largely ineffectual efforts by the U.S.-led coalition to dislodge the Islamic State militants who have occupied significant parts of the two countries.

The reactions underscore that while the West may criticize Putin for supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad, there is some relief in the region at the emergence of a player with a coherent — if controversial — strategy. » | AP | Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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