Vladimir Putin
September 30 marked the entry of Russia into the Syrian conflict. The object, according to reports, is to rid the war-torn county of ISIS rule and militants as swift as possible with Russian President Vladimir Putin committing up to 150,000 Russian troops for the mission.
Moscow is eyeing to kick out ISIS from Raqqa, the UK-based news site Express.co.uk reported. The city was declared as the capital of the Islamic State and ejecting the group from its seat of power could trigger and accelerate its collapse.
But neutralizing ISIS is not Putin's main agenda in moving into Syria. The Russian leader is flexing his muscle in order to establish Russia as a key player in the region, according to the Military Times. It was the same motivation why Russian soldiers are actively engaged in Ukraine and continues to patrol, showing off it air and naval capabilities, the Baltic region.
"Putin instigated a proxy war with the U.S.," the report said, adding that the former superpower "has big ambitions and growing capabilities."
In essence, Russia is sending notice that it is prepared for a shooting war with the West and America but in terms of tussling directly with the United States, Putin will not pull the trigger first. Russia's posturing is more of provoking a reaction from the U.S. or its NATO allies while making it clear that striking back when attacked is always an option.
And part of the Russian playbook is its arsenal of nuclear weapons, which the Military Times said is a capability not only maintained but also modernized under Putin's guidance.
The same report, however, indicated that Moscow will deliberately steer clear of conventional combat as Putin is fully aware that the fearsome military power at the disposal of U.S. President Barack Obama will surely and quickly overwhelm his.
The game plan instead is focused on access of denial or limiting America and its allies' options in the event of full-blown military operation against Russia. This will be made possible by Moscow making full use of its perceived advantages - in nuclear weapons, its vaunted air defense system that effectively thwart missile counter-attacks, its fleet of submarines that can deliver long-range ballistic missiles and its electronic warfare assets that can jam and confuse radar signals.
Now the question arises: When and where the battle will explode that will trigger a deadly showdown between the U.S. and Russia? As suggested above, nothing too aggressive will originate from Putin's end.
Even the provocations reported by NATO over at the Baltic regions appear as a subtle ploy by Russia to test the alliance's resolve - that America and its select friends in Europe will certainly pounce on the aggressor of its helpless friends.
