Bob, I would respectfully disagree. I studied Zbigniew Brzezinski's books when he was with Harvard and represented the realist school when dealing with the soviets. He is calling now for retaliation for strikes, and I greatly respect his opinion, but I think a deal has been cut. The Russians come in and consolidate Syria by eliminating opposition to the military. The Russians put their puppets in the military. After the opposition is defeated and a cease fire is determined, there will be a coup and the current dictator will be replaced. Brzezinski undertands the Soviet client state model and the arbitrary replacement of leaders in client states to meet soviet goals. This dictator is history within one calendar year. It will be the RUSSIANS who will remove him.....just like the shah....taking his wealth to Russia or another client state where his family and upper level government officials will be safe.
Turkey has been strongly behind removal of the dictator because of historic conflict with Russia, the thought of a client state all around them is not appealing. Israel and Saudi Arabia have been playing America to lay down their wealth and children for their goals, so they certainly want continued chaos and no stability. However, I think the President has thought this out. I think the deal is comprehensive and involve the sanctions in Europe. I think this is political theater for the Saudis and Israelis, but the reality is that a new ation state with Russian say on the replacement is a reality. Mika's dad is smart and knows when dealing with the Russians you must deal with strength, and what he does not know is the obvious deal.....Russia neutralizes, we withdraw, Western Ukraine joins the west, Crimea stays Russian, and the economic sanctions end, and we get the F out of the Middle east and Afghanastan.