US defence establishment divided over Russian air strikes in Syria

The American defence establishment is divided.

Some US Generals are looking at the Syrian quagmire and are stunned - but perfectly happy - that Russia is plunging into it. "Let them try and take out the Islamists - good luck to them," is their reaction.

But others in the Pentagon are much more alarmed.

Firstly, there is the danger of "de-conflicting" the battlefield. In other words, making sure that Russian and US aircraft don't end up in the same airspace at the same time. That could get very complicated, very quickly.

Secondly, and more significantly, there is the realisation that Russia is unlikely to be targeting ISIS. Moscow is much more likely to strike moderate Syrian rebels. Using that tactic, Russia is polarising the battlefield between ISIS and Assad, forcing the West to back the Syrian regime as the only bulwark against a terrorist takeover of Damascus.

As General Wesley Clark, a former NATO Supreme Commander, told me, there is method in the madness. The Russians are playing a masterful diplomatic game.

But in the long term they are also playing with fire. What happens if a Russian aircrew gets captured, or if Moscow gets sucked into ground operations?

No wonder the Americans are scrambling to understand the Kremlin's motives, tactics and targets.