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| UK newspapers rage against Putin - but offer no coherent solutions | UK newspapers rage against Putin - but offer no coherent solutions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Syria is widely viewed as a way of bolstering the position of Bashar al-Assad rather than a commitment to defeating Isis. | Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Syria is widely viewed as a way of bolstering the position of Bashar al-Assad rather than a commitment to defeating Isis. |
| That reality complicates matters for David Cameron, who was hoping to secure a Commons vote in favour of the UK launching airstrikes inside Syria, reported the Guardian. | That reality complicates matters for David Cameron, who was hoping to secure a Commons vote in favour of the UK launching airstrikes inside Syria, reported the Guardian. |
| And several commentators also argued that Putin has outfoxed Barack Obama, exposing the US president’s foreign policy weakness compared to the Russian president’s strength, as Ivo Daalder put it in a Financial Times blog. | |
| Those opinions informed several of the leading articles in Thursday’s national press, which raged against Putin’s initiative but without offering any coherent solutions to the problems they believe he is causing. | Those opinions informed several of the leading articles in Thursday’s national press, which raged against Putin’s initiative but without offering any coherent solutions to the problems they believe he is causing. |
| Despite its potentially cataclysmic implications, only two newspapers - the Guardian and the Independent - were the only national titles to lead their front pages with the Syrian story. | Despite its potentially cataclysmic implications, only two newspapers - the Guardian and the Independent - were the only national titles to lead their front pages with the Syrian story. |
| The Daily Telegraph called it “power politics at its most cynical” while decrying “the west”, which had “bungled the situation with contradiction and insufficient leadership.” | The Daily Telegraph called it “power politics at its most cynical” while decrying “the west”, which had “bungled the situation with contradiction and insufficient leadership.” |
| It was critical of the failure to help the Syrians who originally rose up against Assad, the lack of action when he used chemical weapons and the ineffectiveness of the bombing campaign against Isis. The paper said: | It was critical of the failure to help the Syrians who originally rose up against Assad, the lack of action when he used chemical weapons and the ineffectiveness of the bombing campaign against Isis. The paper said: |
| “There will be some in the world who will look at what Vladimir Putin is doing and admire him for taking such uncompromising action. | “There will be some in the world who will look at what Vladimir Putin is doing and admire him for taking such uncompromising action. |
| Of course, that is exactly what Mr Putin is hoping for. He wants to draw attention away from the violent gamble he took in Ukraine and from a domestic economy left fragile by Western sanctions. | Of course, that is exactly what Mr Putin is hoping for. He wants to draw attention away from the violent gamble he took in Ukraine and from a domestic economy left fragile by Western sanctions. |
| Mr Putin wants to rebrand himself as the defender of Russia’s traditional allies - grit in the eye of the west.” | Mr Putin wants to rebrand himself as the defender of Russia’s traditional allies - grit in the eye of the west.” |
| The Telegraph lamented that Obama seems “bent on withdrawal from the Middle East” and looked forward to “wise heads” after he leaves office in January 2017. | The Telegraph lamented that Obama seems “bent on withdrawal from the Middle East” and looked forward to “wise heads” after he leaves office in January 2017. |
| It concluded: “Having the two sides firing at different targets in an arena full of competing groups armed to the teeth is a disturbing scenario. The chaos must be contained.” | It concluded: “Having the two sides firing at different targets in an arena full of competing groups armed to the teeth is a disturbing scenario. The chaos must be contained.” |
| The Times was also critical of four years of “futile” diplomacy to resolve the Syrian conflict in which the west has been “stymied by the obstructionism” of an “amoral” Putin. | The Times was also critical of four years of “futile” diplomacy to resolve the Syrian conflict in which the west has been “stymied by the obstructionism” of an “amoral” Putin. |
| It argued that Putin’s claim to be fighting Isis “is a fiction”, adding: | It argued that Putin’s claim to be fighting Isis “is a fiction”, adding: |
| “Moscow is intervening to shore up Assad’s dictatorship and thwart the United States. It is a grave indictment of the vacillation of the Obama administration that Russian power is being wielded wantonly and with potentially disastrous consequences for Syria’s people and for the wider struggle against Islamist extremism.” | “Moscow is intervening to shore up Assad’s dictatorship and thwart the United States. It is a grave indictment of the vacillation of the Obama administration that Russian power is being wielded wantonly and with potentially disastrous consequences for Syria’s people and for the wider struggle against Islamist extremism.” |
| Since “Russia is deliberately not distinguishing between rebel forces” but “attacking all groups ranged against Assad” it “will prolong the suffering of Syria’s people.” | Since “Russia is deliberately not distinguishing between rebel forces” but “attacking all groups ranged against Assad” it “will prolong the suffering of Syria’s people.” |
| The Times believed Assad’s “depraved” regime continued in existence only because because of “Putin’s blessing, material and military intervention.” | The Times believed Assad’s “depraved” regime continued in existence only because because of “Putin’s blessing, material and military intervention.” |
| And Putin’s real interest in backing Assad was obvious: the stretegic imporance of its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus in order to confront US influence in the region. Meanwhile, as Putin fights, “Obama frets from the sidelines.” | And Putin’s real interest in backing Assad was obvious: the stretegic imporance of its naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus in order to confront US influence in the region. Meanwhile, as Putin fights, “Obama frets from the sidelines.” |
| So the Times eschewed any mention of Britain’s prime minister, as did the Independent and the Guardian. | So the Times eschewed any mention of Britain’s prime minister, as did the Independent and the Guardian. |
| The Indy chose instead to talk of the “exhausted west” being bypassed by Putin. It should come as no surprise that Russia’s military assistance fits with Assad’s war plan to target “the remnants of the popular rebellion over and above Isis.” | The Indy chose instead to talk of the “exhausted west” being bypassed by Putin. It should come as no surprise that Russia’s military assistance fits with Assad’s war plan to target “the remnants of the popular rebellion over and above Isis.” |
| There is little the US can do but sit back and watch, said the paper. Obama “will not seek to confront the Assad regime with force... To all intents and purposes, the lead in Syria has been left to Russia and Iran.” | There is little the US can do but sit back and watch, said the paper. Obama “will not seek to confront the Assad regime with force... To all intents and purposes, the lead in Syria has been left to Russia and Iran.” |
| The Independent, in noting that “the prospect of a diplomatic end to Syria’s nightmare has receded almost to its vanishing point” concluded: | The Independent, in noting that “the prospect of a diplomatic end to Syria’s nightmare has receded almost to its vanishing point” concluded: |
| “As the horror of this beautiful nation unfolds, we are seeing the moral and military exhaustion of the west laid bare. That is yet another regrettable result of the Iraq War this paper so strongly opposed - and a betrayal of the Syrian people.” | “As the horror of this beautiful nation unfolds, we are seeing the moral and military exhaustion of the west laid bare. That is yet another regrettable result of the Iraq War this paper so strongly opposed - and a betrayal of the Syrian people.” |
| The Guardian, while conceding that Russia’s intervention complicates the situation, contended that it “also brings an opportunity... to shift the focus of international concern about Syria away from the military extinction of Isis towards the protection of those civilians by whatever arrangements, partial though they may be, that can be achieved, with or without Moscow’s cooperation.” | The Guardian, while conceding that Russia’s intervention complicates the situation, contended that it “also brings an opportunity... to shift the focus of international concern about Syria away from the military extinction of Isis towards the protection of those civilians by whatever arrangements, partial though they may be, that can be achieved, with or without Moscow’s cooperation.” |
| In taking “Putin’s rhetoric at face value” and agreeing that “there is common ground in the attempt to contain Isis”, said the paper, “let us go beyond that to propose safe havens, no-fly zones and local ceasefires which will get an increasing number of ordinary people out of the line of fire.” | In taking “Putin’s rhetoric at face value” and agreeing that “there is common ground in the attempt to contain Isis”, said the paper, “let us go beyond that to propose safe havens, no-fly zones and local ceasefires which will get an increasing number of ordinary people out of the line of fire.” |
| The previous strategy, the defeat of Isis, “neglected the need for the protection of civilians... one reason why the British government’s preoccupation with the idea of the RAF joining in air strikes against Syrian targets is so beside the point.... | The previous strategy, the defeat of Isis, “neglected the need for the protection of civilians... one reason why the British government’s preoccupation with the idea of the RAF joining in air strikes against Syrian targets is so beside the point.... |
| “There should be a collective waking up to the need for protection within Syria, and Britain should ideally use its limited influence to that end.” | “There should be a collective waking up to the need for protection within Syria, and Britain should ideally use its limited influence to that end.” |
| It concluded: “Western countries should look very urgently at any initiatives which will protect civilians in Syria now, and should test Russia, and Iran, on that critical issue.” | It concluded: “Western countries should look very urgently at any initiatives which will protect civilians in Syria now, and should test Russia, and Iran, on that critical issue.” |
| The Daily Mail contended that Putin has “once again... run rings around the west”, saying that “there is overwhelming evidence Russia is also blitzing US-backed rebel forces opposed to the Assad regime.” | The Daily Mail contended that Putin has “once again... run rings around the west”, saying that “there is overwhelming evidence Russia is also blitzing US-backed rebel forces opposed to the Assad regime.” |
| It called Obama “disengaged and feeble”, thus “creating the leadership vacuum now being filled by Putin.” But it was also critical of Cameron for cuts to Britain’s armed forces: | It called Obama “disengaged and feeble”, thus “creating the leadership vacuum now being filled by Putin.” But it was also critical of Cameron for cuts to Britain’s armed forces: |
| “Is it any wonder Russia no longer treats us seriously? This paper concedes there are no easy solutions, but has sympathy with those who argue that an accommodation must be reached with Putin - and by extension the murderous Assad - if any sort of peace is to be achieved in Syria and the millions of displaced refugees allowed home.” | “Is it any wonder Russia no longer treats us seriously? This paper concedes there are no easy solutions, but has sympathy with those who argue that an accommodation must be reached with Putin - and by extension the murderous Assad - if any sort of peace is to be achieved in Syria and the millions of displaced refugees allowed home.” |
| The Sun, rather than assess the geopolitical problems, preferred to see the matter in terms of Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge never to use the UK’s nuclear weapons system if he became prime minister. | The Sun, rather than assess the geopolitical problems, preferred to see the matter in terms of Jeremy Corbyn’s pledge never to use the UK’s nuclear weapons system if he became prime minister. |
| “Predator” Putin “has ruthlessly exploited the timidity of the west,” said the paper, “so he’ll be licking his lips” at the sight of Corbyn “unfurling his CND banner.” It continued: | “Predator” Putin “has ruthlessly exploited the timidity of the west,” said the paper, “so he’ll be licking his lips” at the sight of Corbyn “unfurling his CND banner.” It continued: |
| “Should British voters ever be so unhinged as to elect him prime minister, his defence policy would amount to turning off the lights and hoping no one noticed us. | “Should British voters ever be so unhinged as to elect him prime minister, his defence policy would amount to turning off the lights and hoping no one noticed us. |
| The sheer lunacy of Corbyn’s position is summed up by his claim that 187 other countries do not feel the need to have nuclear weapons, so why should the UK? | The sheer lunacy of Corbyn’s position is summed up by his claim that 187 other countries do not feel the need to have nuclear weapons, so why should the UK? |
| It ignores that for half a century many of those countries have sheltered behind the nuclear bulwark erected by Britain, America and their allies. | It ignores that for half a century many of those countries have sheltered behind the nuclear bulwark erected by Britain, America and their allies. |
| The cold war was won because, when the Soviets pushed, the likes of President Reagan and Margaret Thatcher shoved back harder. Corbyn would rather fall down and play dead.” | The cold war was won because, when the Soviets pushed, the likes of President Reagan and Margaret Thatcher shoved back harder. Corbyn would rather fall down and play dead.” |
| Among the commentators, the Daily Telegraph’s Peter Foster wrote that Putin’s preparedness “to use force in the prosecution of his strategic goals first in Crimea, then in Syria - has left western powers looking reactive and flat-footed.” | Among the commentators, the Daily Telegraph’s Peter Foster wrote that Putin’s preparedness “to use force in the prosecution of his strategic goals first in Crimea, then in Syria - has left western powers looking reactive and flat-footed.” |
| But he detected that Moscow appears ready to agree some form of compromise in Ukraine. If so, it might be possible, “in a year’s time”, for him to “take a more ‘pragmatic’ approach” in Syria. | But he detected that Moscow appears ready to agree some form of compromise in Ukraine. If so, it might be possible, “in a year’s time”, for him to “take a more ‘pragmatic’ approach” in Syria. |
| Max Hastings, in the Mail, believed Putin is “an attack dog” who “is running rings around the leadership of the west” and especially Obama. He thought “the shadow of the Bush-Blair disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan hangs heavy over the White House.” | Max Hastings, in the Mail, believed Putin is “an attack dog” who “is running rings around the leadership of the west” and especially Obama. He thought “the shadow of the Bush-Blair disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan hangs heavy over the White House.” |
| As for Britain, he detected that its two decades of ethical foreign policies by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Cameron “caused them to promote the overthrow of dictators in the Middle East — all of which have ended in disaster.” | As for Britain, he detected that its two decades of ethical foreign policies by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Cameron “caused them to promote the overthrow of dictators in the Middle East — all of which have ended in disaster.” |
| Time, he said, for the west to find leaders with strong personalities: “We need fewer empty words — instead a cool, ruthless pursuit of both our own national interests, and international stability.” | Time, he said, for the west to find leaders with strong personalities: “We need fewer empty words — instead a cool, ruthless pursuit of both our own national interests, and international stability.” |
| Kim Sengupta, writing in the Independent, pointed out that “although the west may complain that some rebel groups are being attacked by the Russians, they can hardly complain about bombing of al-Qaeda affiliates.” | Kim Sengupta, writing in the Independent, pointed out that “although the west may complain that some rebel groups are being attacked by the Russians, they can hardly complain about bombing of al-Qaeda affiliates.” |
| That, he reminded readers, “is exactly what the Americans did on the opening of their air war against Isis last year... At the time the Pentagon, like the Kremlin now, described its target as dangerous terrorists.” | That, he reminded readers, “is exactly what the Americans did on the opening of their air war against Isis last year... At the time the Pentagon, like the Kremlin now, described its target as dangerous terrorists.” |