... community finally ask questions about the actual composition of Syrian opposition groups: not just the fact that they suffered ... ... horrific internal dissension, but that there were far too many radical Islamists mixed in liberally with so-called “moderate ... .... Because of the torturous hell that was the Chechen conflict, Russia has always been quick to prefer authoritarian stability ... ... areas infected by such radicalism. This is especially so in the Middle East, which Russia considers close enough to be a near backyard ...
Media outlets and government circles both cringe and squirm when the subject of Westerners leaving the West to go fight in Syria and Iraq with the Islamic State arises. While acquiring data and calculating accurate numbers wildly diverges from source to source, there is no doubt that ANY number simply makes countries like the United States uncomfortable and perplexed: in ...
Though Syria has somewhat fallen off the media radar in the West because ... ... across the board, but especially so when it comes to understanding Russian strategy on Syria vis-à-vis the United States. The ... ... its aftermath. Russia, however, with its unique perspective on radical Islamism because of the long and bloody conflict with Chechnya,... ... international influence, then maintaining relevance within the Middle East must be a crucial part of the master plan. Syria is ...
