If US and Russia fail to cooperate in Syria, loser will be the world

Russia and America are close to a shootout.

For the last few weeks, Russian jets have come dangerously close to American fighter aircraft in the skies over the Middle East.

It is a scenario that has repeatedly been played out this year on the American and European coastlines as the Russians tested airspace with bombers that could carry nuclear weapons.

Now, the situation is much more serious. Russia has entered Syria to do two things: Fight Islamic terrorism and support the government of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, a leader that America wants ousted.

The situation is nothing less than an international mess. Witness the tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the fighting and streaming into Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and other continents.

DIFFERENT GOALS

President Barack Obama’s strategy in Syria has not produced results.

The US-backed rebels have failed to force the ouster of Assad. America has spent millions of dollars and produced an inept army incapable of winning.

The coalition fighting against Assad is an odd group. Besides the American group, there are Kurdish fighters and followers of radical Islam.

Not exactly ideal. Turkey has bombed the Kurds and the Americans and Russians are at war with radical Islam.

But the situation may get much worse. President Obama’s stated mission is to defeat ISIS and overthrow Assad. President Vladimir Putin’s goal is to defeat ISIS and to support his old friend, Assad.

Russia needs its navy base on Syria’s coast because it is the Russian navy’s only access to a warm water port.

DEEP RECESSION
Russia is in a deep recession.

The steep drop in oil prices and European/American economic sanctions are causing problems.

Russian soldiers are still in large swaths of Ukraine, and sanctions will likely continue until they withdraw.

Here is where the situation gets dicey. Russian troops are well-trained. But their equipment is old, supply lines are stretched and Russia can ill afford wars on two fronts. It will not be long before questions are asked at home — if not already.

One diversion is nationalism. Putin has played that card big time. He has also scored lots of points by criticising America’s inept handling of the Middle East situation — from Iraq to Afghanistan, to Syria.

But Putin is foolish if he orders the downing of American planes.

Already, American advisers are putting together a plan to defang Putin’s military convoy in Syria and the Caspian Sea. It would not take long to do the task.

So how would Putin respond? Might he retaliate? Might America retaliate in response?

UNIVERSITY LEGISLATION
One guarantee: This scenario is far from the minds of Americans. Most are unaware of the international complexities and are tied up the baseball playoffs.

They would much rather argue about the relevance of gun legislation because the latest university massacre is on the minds of everyone.

News is what happens close to home.

But every day, we are coming closer to a show stopper.

This is the dream of the Islamic caliphate: America and Russia in conflict.

The situation makes it more likely that a stalemate will continue in Syria and the refugee crisis will become even worse.

If Russia and America fail to cooperate in Syria, the loser will be the world.