In the case of Russia and the comments of LTG Ben Hodges, an extraordinary warrior leader whom I know, history is indeed repeating itself. It was back in the early 1930s during the an internal conflagration that we can find a parallel. That conflict was called the Spanish Civil War and the major outside nation that interjected itself was Germany.

“German involvement in the Spanish Civil War commenced with the outbreak of war in July 1936, with Adolf Hitler immediately sending in powerful air and armored units to assist General Francisco Franco and his Nationalist forces. The Soviet Union sent in smaller forces to assist the Republican government, while Britain and France and two dozen other countries set up an embargo on any munitions or soldiers into Spain. Germany also signed the embargo but simply ignored it. The war provided combat experience with the latest technology for the German military. However, the intervention also posed the risk of escalating into a world war for which Hitler was not ready. He therefore limited his aid, and instead encouraged Mussolini to send in large Italian units. Franco’s Nationalists were victorious; he became an informal ally of Germany, while remaining neutral in the Second World War.

The Spanish episode lasted three years and was a smaller-scale prelude to the world war which broke out in 1939. Nazi support for General Franco was motivated by several factors, including as a distraction from Hitler’s central European strategy, and the creation of a Fascist Spain friendly to Germany to threaten France. It further provided an opportunity to train men and test equipment and tactics.”

The similarities of the Spanish Civil War to the Syrian Civil War are striking and alarming. Instead of Germany, insert Russia, who has been utilizing its combat air forces to conduct massive bombing in Syria against the rebel forces. Just replace General Francisco Franco with Bashar Assad. And instead of Italy and Mussolini, replace that with Hasan Rouhani and Iran who has a large presence in Syria with its Quds Force and Hezbollah.

http://www.allenbwest.com/allen/im-going-offline-awhile-need-let-know

Best wishes to the West Family and a wish for happiness, health and peace.