28 Mar 2024
Thursday 11 August 2016 - 16:01
Story Code : 226682

What's behind ex-CIA chief's calls to 'Kill Russians' in Syria

In an interview with Sputnik Persian, political expert at the Islamic University Research Centre "Azad" Mojtaba Jalalzadeh commented on the statement of Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, who has recently endorsed Hillary Clinton and caused a firestorm when he said that the United States should covertly kill Russians and Iranians in Syria.





Jalalzadeh stressed that Morell's statements could have been triggered bythree various factors.
"The first one is a clearly increasing tension inUS-Russian relations. Disputes and controversies inthe political arena ona variety ofissues have only increased," the expert said.


According toJalalzadeh, when Obama came topower, his foreign policy program was aimed atrestarting relations withRussia and minimizing existing differences inpolitical views. But overtime, the US President seems tohave forgotten abouthis plans, especially afterthe beginning ofthe Ukrainian crisis and the Crimean issue.


"Such rigid statements made byMichael Morell could also be explained bythe fact that the US is now inthe middle ofthe presidential race. That is why Morell does not mince his words, and sometimes says crazy things aboutDonald Trump, calling him Putin's agent," the expert explained.

However, these hard and inappropriate remarks could also be connected withthe changing political order inthe Middle East. According toJalalzadeh, Morell's statement could signify the weakening ofthe US' position inthe region.

"After Iran and Russia set upa tacit alliance duringthe Syrian crisis, the West and the so-called opposition ofBashar Assad have mired inthe crisis even more. Especially, when Russia and Iran jointly carried outa successful operation todestroy terrorists," the expert said.
"The victory and success ofthe Russian anti-terrorist military operations inSyria, including those nearAleppo, have been a blow tothe ego ofthe West []. Another reason forthe anger and resentment ofthe West is President Erdogan changing his political course afterthe recent coup attempt. His course is now aimed atreviving strategic cooperation withRussia and Turkey's eastern neighbors, and not withthe West. Erdogan said that he does not see Turkey asan important player ina political alliance underUS leadership," Jalalzadeh added.


Relations betweenthe two countries worsened drastically afterAnkara shot downa Russian jet, which was onanti-terrorism mission inSyria. In June, President Erdogan sent a letter apologizing forthe downing ofthe jet and expressed his condolences tothe relatives ofa pilot, who was killed byrebels afterejecting fromhis plane.


Prior tohis visit toRussia, President Erdogan called President Putin his friend and noted that he wanted toopen a new page inrelations withMoscow. After the failed coup attempt inTurkey, Vladimir Putin expressed support forthe Turkish leader and condemned the unlawful actions ofthe military.

By Sputnik News

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