Co-authored by William Witenberg a contemporary artist focused on abstract painting
As the bloodshed and sorrow continue in Syria, Obama and Putin are unable to come up with a mutually acceptable way to resolve the problems, that are forcing mass migration out of Syria and into Europe, seemly endless senseless deaths, and the rise of the terrorist organization ISIS. Putin has put Russia's military might directly into saving the Syrian state. While America has attempted to offer support to anti-Assad forces, it has not been willing to engage in more than limited militarily actions. The willingness of Russia to directly use force, compared to the American reliance on verbal posturing, failed attempts to arm anti-Assad rebels, and limited military engagement has been further reshaping the global geopolitical landscape, moving the scales in Putin's favor. If there is one moment that demonstrated this for the entire world, it was when Obama warned Assad that use of chemical weapons would be crossing a red line. Assad used chemical weapons with no consequences.
Another example of change in world "power pyramid" - American sanctions on Russia after Crimea were a response to Russia's military acts; it did little to change Putin's course of action. Crimea is and is going to remain part of Russia, proving sanctions inefective. Putin once again astonished the world by yet another great chess move that should make West much more comfortable. He maybe softening his insistence on Assad staying. On Saturday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavroy indicated that there should be a move towards having Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Syria. Furthermore, Putin's other brilliant move has been to supply air support for West backed moderate rebels who fight ISIS. If this AFP report is correct and elections are to happen; it is impossible to tell when and who is left in Syria to vote? It seems that talk about transition and elections may be an impractical compromise. The reality is that ISIS has to be defeated before any transition or elections are held. Clearly the only way to defeat ISIS is through direct military actions. While Putin is gaining more control over the military situation in Syria and Obama is continues to be perceived as a weaker side of this equation. As a consequence one has to assume that any new Syrian state will beholden to Putin; whether Assad is the leader or not, the new government and new military leaders will know to whom they owe their power.