Tobin Harshaw, Columnist

Putin's Syria Gamble Has Already Paid Off

Allies, adversaries and potential buyers were likely impressed by Russia's military hardware.

March 18, 2016 at 6:51 PM UTC

Corrected

March 18, 2016 at 7:26 PM UTC

Tobin Harshaw is a Bloomberg Opinion senior editor and columnist on national security and military affairs. Previously, he was deputy editor at the op-ed page of the New York Times and the newspaper’s letters editor.

Mission accomplished.
Photographer: Paul Gypteau/AFP/Getty Images

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Vladimir Putin says he is withdrawing most Russian forces from Syria because his "objectives" have been achieved. How to judge that boast?

On such goals as keeping the dictator Bashar al-Assad in power, increasing Russian influence in the Middle East, restoring Moscow's seat at the table of global power, and sending a message of strength to Islamic extremists inside Russia's own borders, the jury is still out.