Except for the notable exception of Iranian nuclear aspirations, where the U.S. at least went through the motions of a collective effort, the Obama administration has largely marched to its own drummer in the Middle East. Even now, President Obama reportedly is thinking about increasing America’s robust support for Syria’s anti-Assad insurgents and its military operations against Islamic State.
Through it all, Russia seemed content to acquiesce in American dominance. In recent weeks, however, Russia has made some significant moves in the Middle East, moving substantial military hardware to Syria ostensibly to assist President Assad’s efforts to either remain in power or make an orderly exit. In addition, it is thought the Russians may be positioning themselves to confront the Sunni Islamic State together with Shiite Iran.
One expert at the American Foreign Policy Council compared the buildup to the Russian deployments in Egypt in the 1970s, observing that “It will enhance Russia’s influence throughout the Levant.”
As if to underscore Russia’s renewed pursuit of international parity with the U.S., Russian President Vladimir Putin wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times in which he essentially declared that America would no longer be permitted to go it alone in the Middle East:
Recent events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies….
The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.
Doubling down, Mr. Putin went on to express his disagreement with President Obama’s recent claim of American “exceptionalism” in a speech to the American people: “It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.”
We don’t for a moment give any credence to the sermonizing of this former KGB chief who presided over cold-blooded aggressions against Georgia and Ukraine. But we do take him at his word when he stakes out a claim as America’s equivalent on the world stage.
Sad to say, Mr. Putin’s gambit should not be surprising. He had to have been encouraged by America’s repeated failures to stand up for its security interests. Let’s hope President Obama will belatedly begin to apply the correct dose of firmness and push back against Mr. Putin’s transparent threats.