I think this will go better than Russia’s experience in Afghanistan for several reasons.

Dude. It is not in Russia’s interest to see that region destabilized any more than we have already done. And believe me, we have made it a fucking mess. Syria might not be directly on Russia’s border, but it isn’t that far away either. Instability can spread quickly, insurgency spreads quickly, our Middle Eastern mess…

Im rushed so I didn’t read your whole article, but my simple answer to the headline question is this: he’s doing what the US should’ve done a long time ago.