U.S. Intelligence: Russia Air-Strikes Have Not Aided The Syrian Regime

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CNN: U.S. intelligence: Russian strikes haven't greatly aided Syria's Assad

Washington (CNN)Both Russia and the United States are watching Syria for any signs that President Bashar al-Assad might be about to fall -- but for different reasons.

The U.S. goal is to avoid a catastrophic collapse of the regime. Unlike in Iraq, the United States wants to try to ensure some elements of the Syrian military and key social services and structures in and around Damascus survive if Assad goes, so that Syria can begin to rebuild.

U.S. officials think that Russian President Vladimir Putin was making the same calculations about the regime's odds when he began a military buildup there in September. His goal has been to step in and try to keep Assad in place -- but also to ensure that if he does fall, Russia has influence in choosing his successor.

WNU Editor: The Russian analysis is different .... US Indecisiveness Driving Mid East Allies to Side With Russia in Syria (Sputnik). What's my take .... on the geopolitical level, Russia's involvement in Syria has had an enormous impact. It has shifted alliances and states to work with Russia, and it has diminished the U.S. role in the Middle East. On the military aspects .... it is still too early to determine if Russia's air strikes will have an impact. But for the moment, the momentum in the war has shifted in favour of Assad and his allies, and they are capitalizing on this in launching a new offensive. As for U.S. intelligence .... considering their dismal track record .... who are they to claim that they know best and that the other side does not.