BEFORE RUSSIAN JETS DROPPED THEIR FIRST BOMBS IN SYRIA LAST SEPTEMBER, THE REGIME OF BASHAR AL ASSAD WAS FOUNDERING. NATPOP: http://newswire.storyful.com/storylines/*/stories/109365?q=russian%20airstrikes%20syria%20september&sort=oldest VO: A DRAMATIC SHIFT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN. THE REBEL FORCES, TRAINED AND SUPPLIED BY THE UNITED STATES’ C.I.A, WERE PUSHED BACK FROM THE TERRITORY THEY SEIZED. THE RUSSIAN BATTLEFIELD VICTORIES GAVE AN ADVANTAGE TO THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT, AND CHANGED THE OUTCOME OF THE PROXY WAR BETWEEN MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON. NATPOP: Vladimir V. Putin in April, 2016 [8.03] Our goal was to support the state system in Syria NATPOP: Kerry in OSLO, NORWAY. 15 JUNE 2016 “We are not going to sit there while Assad continues to offensively assault Aleppo, and while Russia continues to support in that effort.”” TITLE CARD: PROXY WAR IN SYRIA: UNITED STATES VS. RUSSIA VO (map): THE AREA OUTSIDE ALEPPO SHOWS HOW THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL OVER THE TERRITORIES, PREVIOUSLY LOST TO OPPOSITION FORCES AND ISIS. NATPOP: Vladimir V. Putin in April, 2016 [9.30] ‘Syrian army continues to advance and frees more cities with our help” VO: FOLLOWING RUSSIAN BATTLEFIELD VICTORIES NEARLY CUT THE OPPOSITION FROM THEIR SUPPLY LINES OVER THE BORDER IN TURKEY. IN THIS FOOTAGE, YOU CAN SEE U.S.-BACKED FIGHTERS DESTROYING A VEHICLE ON CASTELLO ROAD. IT SERVED AS SUPPLIES ROUTE FOR HUMANITARIAN AID FOR CIVILIANS AND SUPPLIES FOR REBELS. HELPED BY RUSSIAN AIRSTRIKES, PRESIDENT ASSAD’S FORCES MANAGED TO RETAKE THIS ROAD RECENTLY, PUTTING OPPOSITION-HELD ALEPPO UNDER SIEGE. NATPOP: from hyperlink above VO: AND NOW, U.S. -BACKED REBEL GROUPS ARE FIGHTING TO BREAK IT. NATPOP: from hyperlink above VO: THE RUSSIAN SUCCESSES IN SYRIA HAVE GIVEN MOSCOW NEW LEVERAGE IN DECISION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST. NATPOP: Putin in April 2016 ”“Our active work against international terrorism helped our relationship with other countrie VO: AND IT SEEMS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S PREDICTION WAS OVERLY OPTIMISTIC. NATPOP: Obama on October 2015 “An attempt by Russia and Iran to prop up Assad ....is just gonna get them stuck in a quagmire and it won’t work. ” VO: THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS NOW TALKING TO PUTIN’S GOVERNMENT ABOUT SHARING INTELLIGENCE TO COORDINATE AIRSTRIKES AGAINST ISIS. NATPOP: Putin on July 14 Moscow ”“I wanted to note our mutual efforts to resolve the conflicts that we consider to be important” NATPOP: Kerry on August 1 State TV, via Reuters, in Washington,“It is critical, obviously, that Russia restrain both itself and the Assad regime from conducting offensive operationsW VO: THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH LEVERAGE THE WASHINGTON HAS NOW TO WIN THE CHESS MATCH WITH RUSSIA ON THE GROUND, AS MOSCOW SEEMS TO BE WINNING THE PROXY WAR IN SYRIA, AT LEAST FOR NOW. NATPOP OBAMA on August 4 Washington: “I’m not confident that we can trust the Russians or Vladimir Putin, which is why we have to test whether or not we can get an actual cessation of hostilities ....(( Russia may not be able to get there, either because they don’t want to or because they don’t have sufficient influence over Assad ))” [SUBS req] END