Amid Russian airstrikes, a Putin craze takes hold in Mideast

[webfact]

Amid Russian airstrikes, a Putin craze takes hold in Mideast
By ZEINA KARAM and VIVIAN SALAMA

BEIRUT (AP) — Amid the ornate walls of Damascus' famed Omayyad Mosque, preacher Maamoun Rahmeh stood before worshippers last week, declaring Russian President Vladimir Putin a "giant and beloved leader" who has "destroyed the myth of the self-aggrandizing America."

Posters of Putin are popping up on cars and billboards elsewhere in parts of Syria and Iraq, praising the Russian military intervention in Syria as one that will redress the balance of power in the region.

The Russian leader is winning accolades from many in Iraq and Syria, who see Russian airstrikes in Syria as a turning point after more than a year of largely ineffectual efforts by the U.S.-led coalition to dislodge the Islamic State militants who have occupied significant parts of the two countries.

The reactions underscore that while the West may criticize Putin for supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad, there is some relief in the region at the emergence of a player with a coherent — if controversial — strategy.

"Putin does more than just speak," said Sohban Elewi of Damascus, summing up the views of Syrians on opposing camps who regard U.S. policy in Syria and Iraq as fumbled and confused.

Russia began its air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, joining the fray of those bombing Syria at a critical time for Assad and his embattled troops. The Syrian army's loss of the northern province of Idlib opened the way for rebels to come dangerously close to the coastal Alawite heartland, leaving his soldiers there vulnerable and dejected.

Russia insists it is targeting the Islamic State group and other "terrorists." But Syrian rebels and opposition activists say Moscow's warplanes in recent days have focused on Idlib and the central province of Hama, hitting U.S.-backed rebels in areas with no IS militants.

The planes also have provided air cover for Syrian ground troops who launched an offensive in central Syria, reinforcing the belief that Russia's main aim is to shore up Assad's forces.

In addition to the warplanes taking off from a base in Latakia, Russian ships in the Caspian Sea have fired cruise missiles that fly nearly 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) over Iran and Iraq to strike Raqqa and Aleppo provinces, in what many see as a show of force meant to portray muscle more than serve a specific military goal.

Among Assad's war-weary and frustrated supporters, such elaborate displays of support provide a much-needed psychological boost, and have injected new hope that their flailing battle against rebel factions and the Islamic State group can still be won.

"The (Russian) intervention has raised the morale of the Syrian army and the Syrian people alike," said Dr. Samir Haddad from the central city of Homs.

"President Putin has a distinguished personality and charisma, and it has become clear that world leaders have gradually started approving, openly or secretly, of this intervention," he said.

In Iraq, where the U.S.-led war against IS has stalled, many say they want Russian airstrikes against IS to extend to their country.

Buried between paintings of Baghdad architecture, mosques and landscapes, some art shops in Baghdad have begun selling portraits of Putin, a tribute to his intervention in what Iraqis see as the new military front against IS.

"Russia does not play games. They are problem solvers, and they do it quietly and efficiently, not like the Americans who prefer to do everything in front of the cameras," said Hussein Karim, a 21-year-old medical student from Baghdad.

In one cartoon widely distributed among Iraqis on Facebook and Twitter, U.S. President Barack Obama is dressed as a Sunni sheikh, while Putin as a Shiite imam, suggesting the two are taking sides.

Another cartoon shows a bare-chested Putin holding IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by the collar of his jalabaya, looking very intimidating. He says to al-Baghdadi: "Where do you think you're going? I'll flatten you like flour," a popular Iraqi expression.

Al-Baghdadi, holding a cellphone, shouts: "Obama, save me!"

Most of the cartoons portray Putin as muscular — a perception that echoes the one at home in Russia, where he has cultivated an image as a man of action.

In addition to conducting his official duties, he often is shown on Russian TV doing such activities as playing ice hockey — as he did last week on his 63rd birthday — or climbing into a submersible to explore the sea.

T-shirts with his image are sold at shopping malls, souvenir stores and even from vending machines in Moscow airports. Some depict him looking tough in dark sunglasses, while others show him riding a horse to the words from a pop song: "They are not going to get us."

The military intervention in Syria is viewed by many as a sign of shifting alliances in the region as Russia takes a greater role in the fight against IS.

Russia has had strong ties with the Mideast for years. The fascination with Putin is driven largely by a longstanding suspicion of the West and anger about decades of U.S. intervention in the region that many say has led to more wars and sectarianism. Many hope a stronger Russia would lead to a more balanced approach.

Iraq's prime minister said last month that his government also entered a joint intelligence sharing agreement with Russia, Iran and Syria, opening an operations center in the heart of Baghdad.

In Egypt, Russian flags and posters of Putin's face hung across Cairo during his visit in February. At the time, the state-run Al Ahram newspaper profiled him, with photos showing Putin shirtless and holding various weapons, headlined, "A hero of our times."

His appeal has extended to Lebanon, where some demonstrators — Christian allies of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group — wore T-shirts bearing Putin's face at a protest Sunday calling for Lebanese presidential elections.

"Putin considers the Syrian crisis an excellent opportunity to erode America's standing in the region," said Ghassan Charbel, editor of the London-based Arabic daily newspaper Al Hayat.

In a front-page editorial Monday, he warned that while Syria presents Moscow with an opportunity to exact revenge from the West, it may transform quickly into an Afghanistan-like quagmire that threatens to erode Putin's image as a "czar."

But the Russian airstrikes also have drawn the ire of rebels in Syria who have formed a joint operations room to fight the new foe.

At a recent demonstration in the northern city of Idlib, armed rebels set fire to a Russian flag. "We will trample on your heads," read one banner, addressing the Russians.
___

Salama reported from Baghdad. Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus and Lynn Berry in Moscow contributed reporting.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-13

[ezzra]

The Mideast has become a free for all arena for all who want to try on new tactics and weapons

and stake a claim for a territory, air or a sea port with very little considerations for the occupants

of the land and the far reaching consequences of their actions,

It has become a shooting gallery ground for pilots of several air force

in their latest state of the art flying machines to hone their skills, targeting

real people and real targets, a luxury hard to come by any other place and time, with very few good

results to show for but more death and distraction..... such is the Mideast in now...

[craigt3365]

I wonder if this praise is also related to religion????

[hard124get]

Sounds like Putin is being welcomed as a hero, and some people don't like it.

[Boon Mee]

Putin is simply filling a vacuum...

[Credo]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

[craigt3365]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

Agreed! Unfortunately, all Putin is doing is propping up Assad. He's the start of all this stuff in the first place. Hard to see how getting him back in power will solve anything. Other than restoring a brutal dictator to power...which the people will probably rebel against again in the future???

[ABCer]

Putin propping up Assad is not important.

Obama trying to topple Assad is not important.

Naturally, having opposite aims they consider each other actions wrong. And even this is not important!

What is extremely important - Obama, USA and their Allies were and are supporting ISIS type of insurgents.

Putin is often accused of crimes against humanity. Without saying he is or is not guilty, -

Should Obama and US Administration be allowed to share the fame of ISIS in their undeniable recorded crimes against humanity?

[craigt3365]

Putin propping up Assad is not important.

Obama trying to topple Assad is not important.

Naturally, having opposite aims they consider each other actions wrong. And even this is not important!

What is extremely important - Obama, USA and their Allies were and are supporting ISIS type of insurgents.

Putin is often accused of crimes against humanity. Without saying he is or is not guilty, -

Should Obama and US Administration be allowed to share the fame of ISIS in their undeniable recorded crimes against humanity?

Actually, Putin is bombing rebels that are fighting ISIS. Should he be held accountable for crimes against humanity???? Sword cuts both ways.

[Seastallion]

There you go, US, that's how to win hearts and minds.

I bet the Pentagon is a bit miffed.

[konying]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

Agreed! Unfortunately, all Putin is doing is propping up Assad. He's the start of all this stuff in the first place. Hard to see how getting him back in power will solve anything. Other than restoring a brutal dictator to power...which the people will probably rebel against again in the future???

What makes you think Western way of life or democracy is what this people want or can handle?

Look at Egypt, Syria even Iraq, what happened when western ideology was applied

[geriatrickid]

The west is weak and incredibly stupid. The foreign policy makers are detached from reality.

1. Don't get involved. Stay out.

2. Insulate the west from the middle east. Do not allow anyone in, including refugees. Tell the refugees to go to Russia. Treat the middle east combatants as infectious disease carriers.

3. Let the Shiites and the Sunnis wage their sectarian conflict. This has been going on for centuries. Let Turkey deal with its barbaric legacy of colonialism. Before there were US, French and American interests, the Middle East was dominated by Turkey. The borders in large part were created during the Ottoman Empire. Let them all kill each other.

[craigt3365]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

Agreed! Unfortunately, all Putin is doing is propping up Assad. He's the start of all this stuff in the first place. Hard to see how getting him back in power will solve anything. Other than restoring a brutal dictator to power...which the people will probably rebel against again in the future???

What makes you think Western way of life or democracy is what this people want or can handle?

Look at Egypt, Syria even Iraq, what happened when western ideology was applied

100% agree. But everybody deserves a life free from repression. Free from persecution. How do you do that? It ain't easy. But that's what started this mess. Assad's repression of his people.

No easy answers here....

[Searat7]

I wonder who is going to pay for rebuilding this country once the war is over there.

[konying]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

Agreed! Unfortunately, all Putin is doing is propping up Assad. He's the start of all this stuff in the first place. Hard to see how getting him back in power will solve anything. Other than restoring a brutal dictator to power...which the people will probably rebel against again in the future???

What makes you think Western way of life or democracy is what this people want or can handle?

Look at Egypt, Syria even Iraq, what happened when western ideology was applied

100% agree. But everybody deserves a life free from repression. Free from persecution. How do you do that? It ain't easy. But that's what started this mess. Assad's repression of his people.

No easy answers here....

You once again applying Western ideology.

They are not ready for it and may not be ready for it for a long time.

West evolved at its own pace, others should be allowed to do the same.

And sorry to tell you, it is not what started this mess, US involvement is what started this mess

Edited October 13, 2015 by konying

[oneday]

The US just needs to get out of Syria and concentrate on Iraq for now. Let Putin have Syria.

[Usernames]

There you go, US, that's how to win hearts and minds.

I bet the Pentagon is a bit miffed.

I wonder why all those "refugees," then, are not taking a right turn at Turkey and heading towards Russia, if Putin and Russia are so great and all???

[noitom]

Putin/Russia need the warm water port/ports in Syria. That is their sole strategic goal. They want it and they want to secure it. I imagine Putin views Assad as an interim means to Russia's goal.

[ggt]

Heaven only knows the outcome of the ME debacle...

But this is my assessment of the two adversarial foreign countries vying for supremacy in that area of the world...

Putin projects strength, intellect, determination, decisiveness, and leadership...

Obama appears weak, lacking in foreign policy savvy, wishy washy, unpredictable, not to be trusted, and unwilling to take a leadership role when the world is looking to the US for some form of a ME plan for stability...

Russia has gone into Syria with guns blazing to protect their interests...the US has spent years and billions of dollars trying to create a rag tag force to unseat Assad...and have failed miserably...

Who would you bet on?

I am looking for Obama to kick the anti-Assad rebels to the curb and turn tail and run...looking for more lofty projects like global warming and climate change...

US citizens are trying to continue to tread water until Obama leaves office...to keep from drowning under the Obama administrations attempt to drown it's citizens with repressive executive orders...15 more months of exciting unpredictable government oversight of it's tax paying citizens...

[konying]

There you go, US, that's how to win hearts and minds.

I bet the Pentagon is a bit miffed.

I wonder why all those "refugees," then, are not taking a right turn at Turkey and heading towards Russia, if Putin and Russia are so great and all???

Because unlike gutless EU, Russia does not have red carpet for them with social benefits for the rest of their lives

[reptile91602]

So Putin is killing muslims and they like it. These are crazy people.

[craigt3365]

So Putin is killing muslims and they like it. These are crazy people.

They hate each other more than Americans! LOL

http://www.aim.org/guest-column/sunnis-and-shiites-why-do-they-fight/

In 2004, a Kuwaiti sheikh, Hamed al-Ali, condemned Shia as “the world’s biggest display of heathens and idolatry,” while the former leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, once said that “the Shiites are a more pernicious enemy than the Americans, and the best strategy for… Sunnis is to ‘strike their religious, military, and other cadres.’ ” The Saudis still maintain official discrimination against Shiites and vilify them in children’s textbooks.

[derator01]

English language only, please.

[ABCer]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

Agreed! Unfortunately, all Putin is doing is propping up Assad. He's the start of all this stuff in the first place. Hard to see how getting him back in power will solve anything. Other than restoring a brutal dictator to power...which the people will probably rebel against again in the future???

What makes you think Western way of life or democracy is what this people want or can handle?

Look at Egypt, Syria even Iraq, what happened when western ideology was applied

100% agree. But everybody deserves a life free from repression. Free from persecution. How do you do that? It ain't easy. But that's what started this mess. Assad's repression of his people.

No easy answers here....

The word "deserves" is suspect to me.

You, me and anybody else deserve what we've got.

No free freedom. No free lunch. No free living. You must get it, take, fight for it, work for it.

If you believe Americans are altruistically trying to help different people at different parts of the World to become free, prosperous and happy - you are a dreamer. A dangerous dreamer. The same goes for Russians.

Every person, people, Nation must come to what it wants through their own effort. Not imported help.

And don't tell me Assad is a tyrant. If he is - let Syrians get rid of him. Not Russians, British or Americans.

[craigt3365]

The word "deserves" is suspect to me.

You, me and anybody else deserve what we've got.

No free freedom. No free lunch. No free living. You must get it, take, fight for it, work for it.

If you believe Americans are altruistically trying to help different people at different parts of the World to become free, prosperous and happy - you are a dreamer. A dangerous dreamer. The same goes for Russians.

Every person, people, Nation must come to what it wants through their own effort. Not imported help.

And don't tell me Assad is a tyrant. If he is - let Syrians get rid of him. Not Russians, British or Americans.

100% agree. But Russia's been involved with Syria for years providing weapons. All 3rd parties should leave. Including Hamas, Iran, etc. But that's not going to happen. Too much money involved.

Remember, Russia's done 1.5 billion in arms sales to Syria. That's big money.

Yes, I'm a dreamer. Like Martin Luther King. Dreams like that are a good thing, right?

[Bakseeda]

Seems to me that nowhere in the world is more entitled to a free nuclear wipe-out than Syria... and please.. make it soon..... Is it just me because I am bored ,bored , bored with the whole political kebab ..... making a meal of nothing.... Press the button PLEASE.......

[HerbalEd]

I wonder if this praise is also related to religion????

Why would anyone "wonder" that? Putin is an infidel.

[craigt3365]

I wonder if this praise is also related to religion????

Why would anyone "wonder" that? Putin is an infidel.

LOL. So are most of us here! But I was wondering if it was a tribal or Shiite/Sunni rivalry between all these parties.

[HerbalEd]

This is a very fickle part of the world. As easily as people can make the meteoric rise to popularity, they can find their heads on a platter.

I do wish Putin all the best. It would be nice if someone could bring some stability to the reason. I don't agree with his tactics, but time will tell.

Agreed! Unfortunately, all Putin is doing is propping up Assad. He's the start of all this stuff in the first place. Hard to see how getting him back in power will solve anything. Other than restoring a brutal dictator to power...which the people will probably rebel against again in the future???

What makes you think Western way of life or democracy is what this people want or can handle?

Look at Egypt, Syria even Iraq, what happened when western ideology was applied

Meanwhile millions of them are desperately fleeing their country and trying to live in democratic countries.

[slipperylobster]

There you go, US, that's how to win hearts and minds.

I bet the Pentagon is a bit miffed.

How is that? Win hearts and minds by bombing? Was that the big secret that the pentagon let out? No more bombing....act nice.

I seem to recall a time when bombing and aggressive tactics were "bad" things. Guess it is time to jump on the bandwagon and toss in more bombs...so the US can regain popularity.

I find this logic strange. Russia bombs without warning or consideration...and bam...a hero is born. The US does it...thousands and thousands of bombs.... and we are villains. Insanity..the whole thing.

Edited October 13, 2015 by slipperylobster