Will probably get on a list for saying this but I'm happy Putin is taking a hard line in Syria and taking down the terrorists the US created. He may have done some bad things in the past i.e. annexing Crimea but at least he's doing something about the middle east that isn't just a blanket bombing campaign and arming "moderate" terrorists.

Oil makes the world go round. He who controls global oil markets, controls the "reserve currency". The end game here is the death of the petro-dollar, which would absolutely end America's role as the foremost global super power. Not to mention it would crush our economy since so much of it relies on cheap oil from a dollar denominated market.

Another goal here is to cage Israel. Israel's foreign policy strategy is to destabilize its neighbors so it can take more land and justify drilling it for oil and gas. This was their plan in Syria, but obviously not any more.

Another goal is sanction relief. Russia just offered indisputable proof that the US has been supporting terror groups in the area, including ISIS. This sheds a new light on the Ukraine situation and gives the Russian POV much more legitimacy. I suspect Russia will have the sanctions lifted this December.

Serious well played, Russia. Putin has effectively zapped the last bit of credibility from the US military and Obama administration.

But didn't turkey just shoot down a russian plane?