Putin's Russia

Russian bear repairs Syrian flag, illustration by Andrzej Krauze

 Natalie Nougayrède wrote an excellent article for The Guardian the other day in which she laid bare President Putin's cynical intentions towards Syria.

 Read the full piece for yourself via the following internet link, but Natalie's argument is that the Russian President is not remotely interested in the Arab Spring or greater democracy in the Middle East, only in maintaining its current foothold in Syria.

What countries in the region require more than anything is less tribal government, an end to the centuries old-feud between Sunni and Shia Muslims, a respect for human and minority rights, and a live and let live attitude to their own citizens as well as their neighbours.

 Whereas Putin has gone for the 'strong man' model of government much favoured by Russian Tsars and the kind of tinpot dictators whose writ runs through much of the Middle East.

 President Assad being a prime example.    

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/sep/18/putin-syria-assad-kissinger-khmer-rouge-disgust

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