"Things" looking ominous in Syria

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The sign of distress: the American flag displayed upside down, Statue of Liberty in the background with bombs bursting

So as Paul Craig Roberts writes , "War Is On The Horizon: Is It Too Late To Stop It?"[1] Read the article and make your own assessment. From here, things look ominous.

One thing is clear, the geo-political center of the world is Syria which has all the world's major and minor antagonists engaged to some degree or another, making it so ominous.

As to Russia in Syria, The Wall Street Journal portrays President Vladimir Putin as a "paper tiger"[2], describing him as such after his non retaliatory response to Turkey's downing a Russian jet fighter in Syria November24, 2015.

As for the West-a cabal of lesser European NATO entities that simply dance to Washington's tune, which includes Turkey, plus Saudi Arabia, the Gulf monarchies and Israel-the downing of the Russian jet fighter by NATO member Turkey was a provocation meant to incite Putin to react militarily aggressively against a NATO country and be the raisond'etre to draw NATO squarely into the Syrian conflict against Russia. When Putin refused to take the bait, he became a paper tiger.

But as I wrote recently, "Things heating up over Turkey's downing Russian jet fighter in Syria"[3], the" one 'thing' about Putin he doesn't announce beforehand what action he is about to take...but Turkey's provocation won't go unpunished".

With this in mind, Putin wants no war with NATO and the US. Therefore I believe his actions will continue to be defensive in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad having been legally invited by the legitimate government-legal under international law- to assist a country under attack.

So Russian fighter planes in Syria act in close military intelligence with the Syrian Arab Army, the Iranian's, Iraqi's and Hezbollah fighters on the ground against IS and its assorted al Qaeda affiliates destroying arms depots, command facilities and recently retaking the strategic Kuweires military airbase east of Aleppo. They've also attacked the illegal IS oil convoys in Syria heading for Turkey. Putin is also working with and militarily supplying Syrian Kurdish forces fighting against Turkmen mercenaries aligned with al Nusra Front along the Syrian/Turkish border region hoping to secure the border against an attack from Turkey.

Thus I believe Putin will maintain the moral high ground in Syria and take no offensive military action from any false flag provocation as recently committed by Turkey.

But...if Turkish jet fighters enter Syria they'll probably be taken out by Russian missiles. If Turkey's President Erdogan initiates a ground assault into Syrian territory-as he did recently into Iraq-these forces will also likely be attacked with Russian missiles.

Most significantly, Russia will not allow a "safe zone" of so called "moderate Syrian opposition forces" be established within Syrian territory. Such a "safe zone" will merely be a subterfuge for IS and al Qaeda to remain within Syrian territory as an ongoing threat to the legitimate Syrian government preventing any possible end to the Syrian conflict.

So back to Roberts question of war being on the horizon and is it too late to stop it? My answer-which hangs by a thin thread- only if Washington hasn't gone completely mad succumbing to the neo-con crazies itching for a war with Russia.

There can be no winner in a war between the US and Russia. Lest we forget the assumed "paper tiger" does have the capability to retaliate and destroy the US.

Is anyone listening outside the neo-con inflated bubble?