Putin's dramatic Syria move raises Russian profile - with risks

New Haven

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is remaking the Middle East by boldly creating facts on the ground. The recent military buildup and the initial airstrikes against targets inside Syria mark Russia's return as a major strategic actor for the first time since the Yom Kippur War of 1973 that pitted Arab nations against Israel. The Kremlin is finding it hard to hide its self-satisfaction with its rapid military intervention in Syria. Tactically it took the US by complete surprise - even today Washington professes not to know what Russia is up to - and Mr Putin must be bemused as Washington flounders for a response while issuing empty threats and warnings backed up by no concrete action.

Mr Putin stole the show at the United Nations General Assembly. Who remembers that Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of other world leaders had gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UN's founding?