<p>Michael Weiss is a senior editor at the Daily Beast and co-author of the book "ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror". He analyses Russian President Vladimir Putin's aims in Syria.</p><br />"I think Vladimir Putin is trying to build his own coalition", Weiss told FRANCE 24's Armen Georgian. "He has come out and said the United States has a very ambivalent and ambiguous policy in Syria - that much is actually true. He has backed the regime of Bashar al-Assad to the hilt from day one, he has not tried to negotiate a diplomatic settlement or political transition. Now, it’s essentially Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Hezbollah versus the United States-led coalition".<br />Weiss adds that "Putin’s style, if you like, in geopolitical brinkmanship is [to] make a fait accompli, and then force your enemy, namely the West, namely the United States, to accede to it. And that’s exactly what’s happening now".<br /><br />Visit our website:<br />http://www.france24.com<br /><br />Like us on Facebook:<br />https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English<br /><br />Follow us on Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/France24_en
