Eradicating ISIS ‘in a matter of weeks’

“’The terrorists don’t know what a real war is, because they have only been subjected to airstrikes. They don’t have experience of real military action,’ said Kadyrov in an interview to a Russian news agency earlier this month. ‘If our request is granted, it will be a celebration for us,’ he said. ‘But it’s a decision for the commander-in-chief to take.’ According to Kadyrov, if Moscow would allow Chechen elite units, spetsnaz, to participate in the Syrian Civil War, the terrorist organization calling itself the Islamic State (ISIS) would be eradicated in a matter of weeks. Kadyrov himself would be happy to enter the battlefield in the first ranks of Chechen units if Putin orders him to do so.”

…

“Several military commentators have expressed doubts over the Russian air force’s capacity to deal a decisive blow to the Syrian insurgents, whether secular or jihadists. To acquire control over the territory, especially key infrastructure and transport hubs, Russia will at some point also need to deploy ground forces. Over the years, Syrian President Al-Assad’s army has proved incapable of eradicating the insurgents and has for some time been on the defense. It has been largely dependent on support from Moscow and Teheran and pro-Iranian armed groups such as Hezbollah. Having deployed its military to Syria, Moscow will find it increasingly difficult to withdraw from the war. If or when necessary, it will have to increase its support for the al-Assad regime to ensure its survival. A failure to do so would be regarded by many Russians as a matter of national humiliation – and as Putin’s personal fiasco.”

http://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-articles/item/13299-will-russia-deploy-chechen-units-to-syria?.html