Truce, schmruce
Whoever really believed the armistice that Lavrov and Kerry achieved for Syria a few days ago, was going to last, must have not paid any attention at all.
Not only was that cease-fire not respected by either Assad's forces or the so called "moderate rebels" (not to mention Daesh), but it was being actively violated in the very first hours after the agreement.
Syria war ceasefire: Government and rebels violate peace deal 'within hours', say activists
The accusations between Russia and the US started raining within hours, too. The biggest problem here being, there's no chance to get the much needed aid into the cities that most need it. And the situation remains disastrous.
And of course, now comes this:
Syria conflict: US air strikes 'kill dozens of government troops'
Of course, given the fact that both the US and Russia have refused to coordinate their actions in an increasingly complicated situation, resulting in close encounters and misunderstandings on the field, such incidents were bound to occur at one point - and increase in frequency. And of course, both sides are now going to use the occasions for some propaganta. Russia has alleged that this incident is proof that the US really supports terrorists. The US says "investigation is underway, no more comments". The more neutral observers are bemoaning the lack of political will between these two great powers to work more closely together. And the incompetence of the US command which, in lack of enough data, seems too trigger-happy in conducting high-risk operations, the US diplomacy then having to wipe the shit from all over the place afterwards.
Ultimately, the conclusion here is that this conflict is not going to end anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Merkel is getting hammered in Germany because of her open-arms policy towards the migrants (an issue directly related to the ongling mess in Syria, but also the chaos that Gaddafi's removal has caused in Lybia). And Putin has expectedly won the Russian election by a landslide - so, expect more of the same in the years to come.
Not only was that cease-fire not respected by either Assad's forces or the so called "moderate rebels" (not to mention Daesh), but it was being actively violated in the very first hours after the agreement.
Syria war ceasefire: Government and rebels violate peace deal 'within hours', say activists
The accusations between Russia and the US started raining within hours, too. The biggest problem here being, there's no chance to get the much needed aid into the cities that most need it. And the situation remains disastrous.
And of course, now comes this:
Syria conflict: US air strikes 'kill dozens of government troops'
Of course, given the fact that both the US and Russia have refused to coordinate their actions in an increasingly complicated situation, resulting in close encounters and misunderstandings on the field, such incidents were bound to occur at one point - and increase in frequency. And of course, both sides are now going to use the occasions for some propaganta. Russia has alleged that this incident is proof that the US really supports terrorists. The US says "investigation is underway, no more comments". The more neutral observers are bemoaning the lack of political will between these two great powers to work more closely together. And the incompetence of the US command which, in lack of enough data, seems too trigger-happy in conducting high-risk operations, the US diplomacy then having to wipe the shit from all over the place afterwards.
Ultimately, the conclusion here is that this conflict is not going to end anytime soon.
Meanwhile, Merkel is getting hammered in Germany because of her open-arms policy towards the migrants (an issue directly related to the ongling mess in Syria, but also the chaos that Gaddafi's removal has caused in Lybia). And Putin has expectedly won the Russian election by a landslide - so, expect more of the same in the years to come.