When I worked with NATO over the years, we used to marvel at the pace of activity, most particularly policy decisions. We could work at a job overseas for an entire four-year tour before an issue that was broached when we arrived was finally considered. No wonder it took so long for the French and Germans to come to the same conclusions about Russia's help to Syria.
Maybe it came from the heat generated when the Russians bombed a hospital - twice - or when the regime they were supporting used barrel bombs on the folks who are left in Aleppo. How anyone lives there is a mystery. After those drone pictures released last week showed next to nothing but a bombed out city. Finding anyone alive there must be like finding a family safe after a crushing earthquake.
Maybe the Europeans are starting to realize the Russians are interfering in more than just Syria. They are trying to influence people in Europe to back their causes and going after those who opposed them, not the least of which was accomplished through cyber attacks on TV5 in France. In Germany, they organized the harassment of political figures who opposed them. It is one thing when they do it in the Ukraine, but quite another when they do it at your own front door. We are finding that out in the U.S elections where the level of interference is substantial and largely unappreciated. Not that we have done much about it. France might not have the same degree of tolerance that the Obama Administration has shown.
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