Stephen Lendman

Russia genuinely wants conflict in Syria resolved diplomatically. Otherwise, it can continue interminably.

America wants endless war, Assad ousted, pro-Western puppet governance installed and Syrian sovereignty destroyed.

Intractable East/West positions show no signs of changing. Endless war rages, escalation likely.

So-called cessation of hostilities proved farcical. Peace talks were dead on arrival. Washington and its rogue partners support terrorist groups ravaging Syria. US air power and special forces on the ground aid them. No so-called moderate rebels exist, one of many Big Lies about Obama’s dirty war, the pure evil face of imperialism, continuing without mercy no matter who succeeds him.

Washington wants Russian airstrikes on Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists halted, according to Sergey Lavrov - so nonexistent moderate rebels won’t be hit.

Moscow calls combating and defeating ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other terrorist groups ravaging Syria top priority. Otherwise, endless war will continue.

“(T)errorism is our common threat, and there should be no doubt about that,” Lavrov stressed. Jabhat al-Nusra is using a pause in attacks on its positions to rearm, regroup and add other terrorist groups to its ranks.

Separately, Al Jazeera reported “Putin may deploy special operations forces on the ground in Syria (to combat terrorists), a move that might be made to ensure ‘a decisive victory.’ “

According to former deputy foreign affairs minister Andrei Fyodorov, “(t)his is under discussion. There are plans for this.”

“This is a delicate issue for our military. There are serious doubts that any participation by Russia on the ground would be favourable or complicate the negotiation process and lead to further disagreements with the US.”

At the same time, unnamed political and military officials believe deployment is needed to defeat the scourge of terrorism.

According to Fyodorov, “(f)rom the Russian point of view, Assad should control 70% of Syria, and that way you can hold elections and they would be favourable for (him). That is why the issue of ground operations is becoming more actual.”

Political analyst Sergey Strokan said Moscow can’t afford to lose Aleppo, Syria’s largest city and commercial hub pre-war, large parts of it destroyed, much of its population displaced.

According to Al Jazeera, “some analysts suggest a ‘Stalingrad’ in Syria is…need(ed)” - a decisive battle to turn the tide and hasten war’s end, “requir(ing) (Russian) ground troops” along with its formidable air power.

Will Washington respond in kind if Russia deploys combat troops to Syria? Will confrontation between both countries follow? Syria already is a dangerous flashpoint. Is something much more serious coming?

-###-

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network