Pact shows U.S. ‘behind the curve’ in Middle East
Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s surprise announcement of an
intelligence-sharing network to combat the Islamic State — including
Syria’s Assad regime, Iran and Iraq — caught the United States by
surprise, in an apparent intelligence failure that foreign policy
experts say shows alarming ongoing problems in the region, but may also
provide an opportunity.
“It certainly is news that the U.S. administration is surprised by this deal. That says something about the intelligence we have in that part of the world. It looks like in terms of intelligence that the U.S. is a little behind the curve in the Middle East,” said Walter Russell Mead, professor of foreign affairs at Bard College. “They may not want to say something because it may compromise a source. You don’t want to assume they knew nothing. You don’t want to assume they’ve lost control of events in the Middle East.”
U.S. officials were blindsided by Sunday’s announcement by Iraqi officials that they were joining an intelligence-sharing effort with Russia, Syria and Iran. At the United Nations yesterday, President Obama criticized Putin for militarily propping up Syrian dictator Bashir Assad, while Putin dismissed Western concerns about the regime.
But Scott Stewart, tactical intelligence analyst with Stratfor, a global intelligence firm, said the deal could benefit the U.S. in the long run by coordinating intelligence between Syria and Iraq, which so far has not happened. While the U.S. is supporting groups opposed to the Assad regime, he said both sides agree the greater enemy is the Islamic State.
“It may help more than hurt. One of the things hurting the coalition effort now is the shortage of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms in the area,” he said. “I don’t see the Russians wanting to exclude the U.S. from intelligence targeting the Islamic State.”
Stewart said the Russian leader is doing his best to look like a global power broker during his U.S. trip.
“I think it’s interesting seeing Putin trying to come across as rational, calm and mature. We’re not seeing the fire-breathing Putin,” Stewart said. “He’s really coming across as a measured statesman. Very logical. He’s doing a good job of portraying that to the public. It wasn’t the bare-chested Putin riding a tiger.”
“It certainly is news that the U.S. administration is surprised by this deal. That says something about the intelligence we have in that part of the world. It looks like in terms of intelligence that the U.S. is a little behind the curve in the Middle East,” said Walter Russell Mead, professor of foreign affairs at Bard College. “They may not want to say something because it may compromise a source. You don’t want to assume they knew nothing. You don’t want to assume they’ve lost control of events in the Middle East.”
U.S. officials were blindsided by Sunday’s announcement by Iraqi officials that they were joining an intelligence-sharing effort with Russia, Syria and Iran. At the United Nations yesterday, President Obama criticized Putin for militarily propping up Syrian dictator Bashir Assad, while Putin dismissed Western concerns about the regime.
But Scott Stewart, tactical intelligence analyst with Stratfor, a global intelligence firm, said the deal could benefit the U.S. in the long run by coordinating intelligence between Syria and Iraq, which so far has not happened. While the U.S. is supporting groups opposed to the Assad regime, he said both sides agree the greater enemy is the Islamic State.
“It may help more than hurt. One of the things hurting the coalition effort now is the shortage of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms in the area,” he said. “I don’t see the Russians wanting to exclude the U.S. from intelligence targeting the Islamic State.”
Stewart said the Russian leader is doing his best to look like a global power broker during his U.S. trip.
“I think it’s interesting seeing Putin trying to come across as rational, calm and mature. We’re not seeing the fire-breathing Putin,” Stewart said. “He’s really coming across as a measured statesman. Very logical. He’s doing a good job of portraying that to the public. It wasn’t the bare-chested Putin riding a tiger.”
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