Russia, Syria And The Assad End Game (Tom Ashbrook, On Point)

Through years of crisis, Russia was a quiet hand behind Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad as Washington insisted he had to go. Syria fell apart, civilians suffered and fled, ISIS arose. Washington had no effective answer. Now, Russia’s beefing up in Syria. Fighter jets, attack helicopters, Russian troops on the ground. And more. Russian intelligence in a “control room” in Baghdad with Iraq, Syria, Iran. To fight ISIS, back Assad, leverage Russian power. Yesterday, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin met in New York. This hour On Point, the Russia factor now, in Syria and beyond. -Tom Ashbrook
Interview:
https://onpoint.wbur.org/2015/09/29/assad-putin-united-nations-syria-obama