zorobabel wrote:Isn't it pretty obvious what is happening? The Kremlin had to try, but even with heavy airstrikes, close-air support, the support of thousands of Shia militiamen and Iranians, progress has been slow. In fact, very little progress has been made outside the South Aleppo front over the last month.Monarchist wrote:What seriously pisses me off is when she said that for Russia it doesn't matter if Assad stays or go.JohninMK wrote:Looks like Moscow has outmanoeuvred Washington again. Still no news of the similar list asked for by Moscow.
EDIT
Or maybe not
MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. Russia’s, the United States’ and Saudi Arabia’s lists of Syrian opposition representatives who could be invited for talks with Damascus partially coincide, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.
"We have prepared our vision," she told the Ekho Moskvy radio station. "It is not based on political speculation or political preferences. We have been working with these organizations, both in Moscow and in European capitals and in the Middle East, for four years."
"The lists partially coincide," she said, adding that the United States and Saudi Arabia had added some other organizations to their lists.
At a meeting of Russia, US, Saudi and Turkish foreign ministers in Vienna on October 29, the Russian side handed over to the partners a list of 38 representatives of Syrian opposition who could be invited for talks with the current Syrian authorities.
More at http://tass.ru/en/politics/833834
What kind of an "ally" is that?
Progress has been made. But let us be realistic here. Russia has to show the world that it isn't trying to keep Assad in but instead deal with these terrorists. If and once the vote is in place where Assad stays, then guaranteed Russia will start striking everyone else that isn't on the side of Assad, as the voting will be the evidence needed to the world of Assad's popular support in the country. An opposition can exist, as per Russia, so long as it is done the real democratic way - not taking up arms.