Trump wanted to distinguish themselves from Obama

the hague - US missile attack on an air base in Syria is a type of repair of the situation in 2012/2013 when Barack Obama renounced action with cruise missiles after a chemical attack by the Syrians. In that sense, the US president Donald Trump wants to distinguish itself from its predecessor, says prof. Ko Colijn, security expert associated with the Clingendael Institute.

Instead of action agreed at the time that Syria surrenders all its chemical weapons. 'That Obama took a huge risk,' says Colijn. That all chemical weapons have been destroyed a year later, actually, is questionable, as it turns out. 'Trump did not stand idly by now clear. '

Colijn sees the action of the Americans as a 'test for the Russians how they restrain able Syrian President Assad. '' The Americans have indicated that this action was once unless Assad re-deployment of chemical weapons. '

Militarily, was the missile attack to be successful, Colijn says. 'There are fourteen fighters off and the airport is unusable. 'That dozens of rockets would have missed goal, he dismisses as Russian propaganda. 'Maybe there have missed a goal or two, but these missiles are very accurate. 'What also plays a role mainly as Colijn is that the Americans wanted to keep it in-house. 'Because otherwise Israel might take action,' he said.

That the US action possibly permanently damaging consequences for the relations with Russia, he did not expect. 'The question now is whether Tillerson Minister of Foreign Affairs continues to welcome his planned visit to Moscow next week. 'Russia's cooperation with the US is now terminated in the fight against terror group, but will be restored however, thinks Colijn.

'The fact that the Russians have indicated that there are no Russians killed in the missile attack, indicates that the damage was limited in Russian eyes. More interesting perhaps is that there is now a crack has come in relations between the Turks and the Russians, now Turkey has supported the US attack, 'says Colijn.

Colijn not think the peace talks on Syria in Geneva will bleed to death now. He is more concerned that Assad again wants to prove his independence. 'Maybe not with nerve gas, but perhaps next time with a chlorine attack. '