While the world is watching closely what Vladimir Putin is up to in Syria, Richard N. Haass seems to be full of admiration for the Russian president, admitting the latter is the strongest leader "since the Stalin era." Haass claims, Putin - as a "martial-arts enthusiast" - knows his moves, which are "entirely consistent with many of the discipline's principles". It's about the "importance of the decisive thrust that neutralizes the opponent's strengths and exploits his weakness."

We have been rebuked for being too critical of Putin and viewed his actions in a short term perspective while overseeing their - positive - long-term consequences. Haass endorses Russia's effort to prop up Assad’s "embattled regime" and prevent it from collapsing. "As bad as" it is compared to the Islamic State, he still sees it as the lesser of two evils, fearing "genocide, millions more displaced people" etc. should ISIS seize power.

Haass says Putin has been able to "distract domestic attention" from economic woes and the war in Ukraine, while remaining popular for his military adventure in Syria, under the pretext of supporting Russia's "long-term" and only ally in the region. According to Haass it is "unlikely" that Putin's "assertiveness" would trigger "a new wave of such interventions, even a new Cold War", simply because Russia lacks "the economic and military means to sustain such efforts on multiple fronts." Besides the mood may change if Russians see they have "to pay a high price" for it.

Even if Russia's airpower succeeds in helping the regime recapture lost territories, it will merely "establish a relatively secure enclave," without weakening ISIS, which has taken over "areas that others have abandoned." In the face of Russia's involvement Haass praises Putin's ability of "planning several moves ahead", and he doesn't rule out a diplomatic solution that would remove Assad from power. This would enable Putin "to demonstrate Russia’s central role in shaping the future of the Middle East" and it would also "confer prestige" on him.

Haass advises the US and its allies to "pursue a two-track policy", that would "improve the balance of power on the ground", while helping the Kurds and Sunni tribes fight ISIS "from the air." His idea of "enclaves or cantons" is indeed the "best possible outcome for now and the foreseeable future", with the breakup of Syria as an inevitable outcome. It's not true that "neither the US nor anyone else has a vital national interest in restoring a Syrian government that controls all of the country’s territory". John Kerry says that both the US and Russia want to restore a "united and secular" Syria, with "Iranian participation." Even if they finally "ease Assad out of power" it is most unlikely that the "successor government" would enjoy "the support of his Alawite base and, ideally, some Sunnis."