Russia’s Putin warns of Islamic militant spillover from Syria into ex-Soviet bloc
SOCHI, Russia – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned ex-Soviet allies on Monday that Islamist militancy fuelling the war in Syria could reach their countries, some of which have Muslim majorities.
Russia, which has a large Muslim minority of its own and is fighting an Islamist insurgency, has accused the West of helping militants by seeking Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s removal without paying enough attention to the potential consequences.
Putin told leaders of the six-nation Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that militants fighting Assad could eventually expand attacks beyond Syria and the Middle East.
“The militant groups (in Syria) did not come out of nowhere, and they will not vanish into thin air,” Putin said.
“The problem of terrorism spilling from one country to another is absolutely real and could directly affect the interests of any one of our countries,” he said, citing the deadly attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi as an example.
“We are now witnessing a terrible tragedy unfold in Kenya. The militants came from another country, as far as we can judge, and are committing horrendous bloody crimes,” Putin said at a CSTO summit in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
His words appeared to be a warning about violence spreading from both Syria and Afghanistan, which shares a long border with CSTO member Tajikistan in Central Asia. The security alliance also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Belarus.
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan all have mostly Muslim populations.
Russian officials have expressed concern that Russian-born militants fighting in Syria could return to Russia’s North Caucasus and join an insurgency that claims lives almost daily.
They have also voiced worries that violence could spread into former Soviet Central Asia and Russia after the withdrawal of most Western troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year.
Russia has been one of Syria’s strongest backers in a conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people since it began in March 2011, delivering arms to Assad’s forces and joining China in blocking Western-backed initiatives in the UN Security Council.
Russia, which has echoed Assad’s contention that he is fighting al-Qaida-inspired Islamists rather than a popular revolt against his autocratic rule, has warned the West that military intervention in Syria would play into the hands of the militants.
WarSclerotic 
September 23, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Bigo, seats in the front row!
September 23, 2013 at 8:01 PM
Of course he is worried about the Sunni militants (what an nice word for bloody murderers).
I do believe that he is sincere.
On the other hand he doesn’t mind the Shia militants (Iran) getting nukes.
Let’s not kid ourselves. Iran is not moderate. They are just more intelligent and patient than the typical jihadi who just can’t wait to go to paradise.
September 23, 2013 at 8:15 PM
You guys are all missing the mark. Things are morphing right under your noses while you stubbornly hold onto the past. Netanyahu had his chance and he muffed it. The world is moving on
September 23, 2013 at 8:44 PM
Ok John.
I’m trying to have a civilized discussion now.
Can you tell me why you think that we are stubbornly hold to the past?
September 23, 2013 at 9:10 PM
Look around you, the pieces on the chess board are moving quickly now and all Netanyahu can say is don’t be fooled. No one is listening.
As I said, Israel will not be happy with the deals that will be cut during this chess match. The weight of the world will then attempt to force a deal on Israel and I mean everyone!
Oslo was the beginning of the end for Israel in terms of holding back the world tide against it. Should Israel attack Iran after the DEAL, Israel then become the world pariah. Israel losts its leverage as soon as it starting to back peddle. IMHO.
September 23, 2013 at 9:35 PM
Israel will have no other option than to attack Iran – and become the world pariah
September 23, 2013 at 9:44 PM
Time will tell I guess, but, I fear Israel has already let too much time pass.
September 23, 2013 at 9:57 PM
I’m not missing the mark.
I just stated what needed to be stated. Putin is only worried about the sunni extremists but not about the shia extremists.
Or to paraphrase a famous quote: “They are bastards, but they are our bastards”.
This is the reason why we shouldn’t be under the illusion that he worries that much about Iranian nukes.
September 23, 2013 at 10:14 PM
Not so sure my friend..
A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the
scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The
frog asks, “How do I know you won’t sting me?” The scorpion
says, “Because if I do, I will die too.”
The frog is satisfied, and they set out, but in midstream,
the scorpion stings the frog. The frog feels the onset of
paralysis and starts to sink, knowing they both will drown,
but has just enough time to gasp “Why?”
Replies the scorpion: “Its my nature…”
September 24, 2013 at 6:10 PM
It was also the frogs nature to believe the scorpion.
I’ve dealt with that extensively in my post on Putin and America in which I gave very strong arguments why this is not the case.
You go on to repeat the same arguments that have already been refuted or that have shown to be weak over and over again as if they were the gospel truth.
I don’t want you to get the wrong impression that this is something personal but it is pointless to become engaged in such circular arguments.
That’s why I don’t bother to answer you anymore.
Sincirely
Artaxes
September 24, 2013 at 6:28 PM
Since I guess I’m still entitled to my opinion all I said is I’m not as sure as you are my friend. I’m sure you do not consider yourself infallible. Do you?
September 24, 2013 at 7:31 PM
The only one infallible around here is SUPER JW !
Well, on this site, anyway… Heh!
Jokes…. Seriously guys, keep it up. All viewpoints are valued. NOBODY has the all the information and even less can predict the future with certainty.
I’m reminded of the aphorism that my friend the philosopher Robert Anton Wilson used to have enshrined on his desk.
It read:
“If you think you know what the hell is going on, you’re probably full of shit.”
September 24, 2013 at 8:01 PM
JW for pope.
How about Warscleroticus the first?
Thanks for the encouragement and your allways good spirit.
September 24, 2013 at 8:14 PM
September 23, 2013 at 9:12 PM
If this was to happen it would not be good for anyone.
September 23, 2013 at 9:13 PM
The stability of the former soviet block and Russia is of vital importance, if they begin to collapse and fall into chaos it would be a nightmare.
September 23, 2013 at 11:10 PM
One reason I’m so bullish on America.
The U.S. economy has been shackled for decades by its reliance on foreign oil. Just a few years ago, this country relied on other nations for 60% of the oil we needed to fuel our daily lives. Now, thanks to hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, we’ve begun to unlock vast oil resources. By next year, U.S. net oil imports will have declined to just 29%, with much of what’s imported coming from our friendly neighbor to the north. It’s stunning how quickly things have changed.
However, that tells only half of the story. The natural gas side is even more compelling. We’re sitting on more than a 100-year supply, with additional gas being found all the time. Projections have natural gas production growing by 44% through 2040 to 33.1 trillion cubic feet. It’s starting to displace coal-fueled power plants, diesel in buses, and oil as a feedstock for petrochemicals. Natural gas is becoming the fuel of our future, even as it begins to become one of the world’s most sought-after fuels.
September 24, 2013 at 4:03 AM
Spot on JP, and if and when we can dump the socialists running this country, the economy will come roaring back. It will be the proverbial shot heard round the world.
September 24, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Exactly LS, those who see America in decline are going to get an eye full soon enough.
September 24, 2013 at 1:22 PM
In the next five years the technology coming out of Google and Apple alone will be globally transformative. Both American companies for those who may not know.
September 24, 2013 at 5:50 PM
Aircraft Carriers by country.
UK 1
France 1
Russia 1
Spain 1
India 1
Italy 2
Brazil 1
China 1
Thailand 1
World total 10
USA total 10.
Filled with stealth combat drones and planes. Now that’s global power projection.
September 24, 2013 at 2:17 PM
.This reality of American energy independence unfortunately will greatly impact Israel. Israel although still an American ally will no longer be seen as an 11th US aircraft carrier guarding US strategic oil supplies. This is huge, because Israel loses leverage on America and people like Obama can now be free to push Israel into positions it does not want to be pushed into. Sad but true!
September 24, 2013 at 2:44 PM
Unfortunately for Israel, Netanyahu has led it into a dead end!