Al-Nahar, Lebanon, Originally posted in Arabic on September 18
It is no secret that the economic situation in Russia is difficult. The global plunge in oil prices severely weakened the Russian economy and degraded the value of the ruble.
This comes at a bad time for Moscow. The military infrastructure in Russia is becoming old and worn, and the Kremlin must make big military investments in order to keep up with the United States’ modern army.
It is also no secret that Russia is seriously concerned with the growing power of fundamental Islamic movements in the Middle East, such as the Islamic State. Russia is home to some 20 million Muslims, who constitute a significant portion of its electorate. If today’s demographic trends continue as they are, Muslims will assume a bigger and bigger role in the Russian military, politics, and public life.
On the American side, meanwhile, security experts are in complete agreement that air strikes alone will not bring down the Islamic State. They openly acknowledge the need for “boots on the ground” in order to subdue the radical Sunni terror organization. Is it possible to convince both sides to cooperate in this war?
If Russia and the United States join forces, there are good chances that the Islamic State would be contained within a year. The cost of such a military operation, which is estimated at around $50 million a day, cannot be borne by a single country alone. Russia and the United States together, along with the European Union that already fears the stampede of Syrian refugees, will all contribute to this effort.
The only way to solve such a complex regional problem is by deploying a creative regional solution. – Sarkis Naoum