Washington struggles for clear line on Syria
Russian air strikes have had a significant impact in Syria - and beyond Russia's intervention in Syria has changed the military and diplomatic dynamic in the crisis and left the US struggling to catch up. Whatever the inconsistencies in Moscow's own policies, it has highlighted the deficiencies in Washington's approach - not least the collapse of its ailing "train and equip" programme for Syria, which was largely going nowhere. Washington badly needs a new approach. US prestige in the region is at a low point. Most of its allies are in one way or another negotiating with Moscow, and the clear message is that any new diplomatic path will run through the Russian capital rather than Washington. Moscow's air strikes have overwhelmingly targeted non-Islamic State (IS) groups and to that extent have actually assisted the so-called IS. Indicative of the ailing US policy is that the frequency of US air strikes against IS targets in Syria has slowe...