"Remember when Russia's entrance into the Syria crisis was a "mistake" and even a "strategic blunder", according to Washington?," questions business analyst Kenneth Rapoza in his article in Forbes.
"Following Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, Russian air strikes on ISIL strongholds in Syria are no longer viewed as making the migrant crisis worse," he adds.
"Instead, they are viewed as a means to keep Syria from falling to the enemy."
Under such dire circumstances, the author further adds that it will be hard to see European leaders agreeing to continue sanctions on Russia beyond July 2016.
"Russia has gone from foe, to friend."
His view is confirmed by Vladimir Signorelli, Brettonwoods Research founder, who also says that "odds are high that Russia could see discussion on the rollback on sanctions soon," even though he doubts that it will come already in January.
"Prevailing winds are blowing in Russia's favor," Rapoza says.
He also quotes President Putin as saying that a common enemy has helped amid deteriorating relations with the West. And noted that there is potential for a single international coalition in the fight against ISIL, as "the gap with Russia over Assad is narrowing," as David Cameron put it.
"Among Western nations, it is clear that the categorical rejection of allowing Assad any constructive role in Syria is breaking down. The rejection of Russia's direct cooperation with US and European forces may also be about to shift," the author adds.
As soon as the discrepancies are settled there will be a huge boost for momentum in Russia, predicts Moscow based fund manager David Herne of the Specialized Research and Investment Group.
The MSM has gone quite berserk over the Paris attacks. The Lebanon bombings are a footnote at best.
They have furiously supported French bombings on ISIL, as they should, yet they still won't mention that these attacks been unilateral, without any approval from, or respect for the legal Syrian government, thoroughly against international law and the UN charter. The French invoked the self-defence clause, which the Russian Federation promptly echoed over the downing of the A321 over the Synai, no exceptionalism here.
I suspect that what we will see is nothing more than a ramping up of NATO/US airstrikes. And increasingly blatant military support for 'moderate' rebels.
I've said in a previous post that the only way to defeat ISIS is with co-operation with the SAA, who is basically the only force on the ground, sick and tired of fighting externally-supported jihadist groups though they are. 'Moderate' rebels are in the west of Syria (other than anti-Turkish Kurds) and are in no position to assault ISIL. Pure air force campaigns don't win wars, as the NATO campaign against Serbia proved. And, indeed, the completely ineffectual year-long bombing campaign the U.S. have led in their glorious 60+ country 'Coalition of the Willing' against ISIS in Iraq and Syria (I'll leave alone the arguable intent of that).
It's long past time for western governments to lose their geo-political aims and learn empathy for the Syrian people in their own country, instead supporting chaos for the sheer sake of their financial masters.
And learn that supporting jihadist groups only rebounds against you in the end.
What were you thinking?