Obama must change strategy toward islamic state

The apparent rapprochement between Russian Federation and the West will have consequences – foremost for ISIS. At the G-20 summit in Turkey over the weekend, Obama and Putin spent 30 minutes in conversation. Britain’s David Cameron along with other leaders lined up to meet him for a tête-à-tête on the sidelines of the event.

“In my opinion, there can now be no doubts that it is simply unacceptable to put forward any preconditions in order to unite in the battle against so-called Islamic State terrorists”, he said”.

“Traces of foreign explosives” were found on debris from the Metrojet plane, FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov told the Russian president on Monday.

Portraying himself as the only viable alternative to jihadist rule, Mr. Assad has labelled all his enemies “terrorists”, a designation that, in the wake of the recent attacks on civilians by ISIS, may find greater resonance.

The bombing raid, one of the largest by Moscow since the Soviet war in Afghanistan, marked an impressive turnaround for Putin, who has positioned himself as an indispensable piece of the puzzle in the fight against ISIS in Syria after more than a year of being isolated by the global community.

“I believe the call of President [Francois] Hollande to President [Vladimir] Putin after the bad terrorist attacks in Paris, his offer to coordinate our efforts and the president’s response, which expressed willingness to do so on the allied basis, all that indicates that now sensible politicians are leaving aside the minor things and realize there is a need focus on the main priority – to terminate the pretensions of ISIL [former name of IS – TASS] to win bridgeheads on the vast territory around the globe”, the minister said. Diplomats have struggled to bring the rivals together. Russia, he suggested, has stepped into a quagmire.

On Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama doubled down on his assertion that Assad must leave office before the civil war in Syria can be resolved.

That is progress, but this emerging alliance shows every indication of leaning more in Putin’s direction than President Obama’s.

Cameron has echoed Hollande’s call for united military action against ISIS, saying Britain is ready to compromise on a peace deal and political transition in Syria. Next week, he will make his case in Washington to President Obama and then travel to Moscow with the same message for President Vladimir Putin.

A Russian investigator walks near wreckage a day after a passenger jet bound for St. Petersburg, Russia, crashed in Hassana, Egypt, on Sunday, November 1, 2015. Russian Federation is an American adversary but also a victim of terrorism.

He said the Russians have come to the conclusion that there can be no long-term solution for Syria while Assad remains in power. But Russian Federation has also continued to pound Syrian rebel groups that are backed by the West, as well as insisting that Mr Assad must stay.