Putin is testing Trump on Syria. Is he even aware?

[ABX]

Want to view the costs of President Donald Trump’s persistent pursuit of Vladimir Putin?
Look no further than Syria, where the Kremlin is determined to drive out U.S. forces that are assisting the Syrian Kurds who defeated ISIS. The consequence would be a likely return of jihadis to Syria along with a strengthening of Iranian influence. Putin’s role as Mideast kingpin would be strengthened.
But Trump has no clue.....

http://www.onlineathens.com/opinion/20180323/rubin-putin-is-testing-trump-on-syria-is-he-even-aware

[TomSea]

Moscow and Tehran, however, left the successful battle against ISIS to the Americans and their Kurdish allies; Kurdish fighters now control a large swath of northeastern Syria, called Rojava, that stretches along the bulk of the Syrian-Turkish border. The Syrian Kurds hope this territory will become a federal region within Syria (they insist they don’t want an independent state).

The United States has 2,000 troops in this region, hoping to use their presence as leverage in international negotiations over Syria’s future (now dominated by the Russians). Some U.S. officials, like former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, had overly grandiose hopes, arguing this leverage could help unseat Assad.

From the article: http://www.onlineathens.com/opinion/20180323/rubin-putin-is-testing-trump-on-syria-is-he-even-aware

I thought someone said it was propaganda that ISIS was defeated. They should read the articles they post.

[TomSea]

Here is the headline: The Turks could not have made their move into Afrin without a green light from Putin.

Russia controlled the airspace over Afrin. The Russians had a few hundred observers inside Afrin. Moscow pulled out its forces, withdrew its air cover, and let Turkey advance in order to poke a finger in America’s eye.

Actually, a very good enlightening article.