French President Francois Hollande was in Moscow Thursday where his host, Russian President Vladimir Putin, assured him of Russia’s determination to form a united front against the Islamic State (IS) terror militia. The statements came shortly after Germany also committed to increase its military participation in the campaign, with the British Parliament expected to vote early next week to begin bombing IS targets in Syria in addition to Iraq. However, weak links in the anti-IS coalition include a reluctance by the Obama Administration to intensify airstrikes in the absence of a political strategy for post-war Syria and the rising tensions between Russia and Turkey following the downing of a Russian bomber by Turkish fighters earlier this week. Analysts have also cast doubt on the long-term prospects for cooperation between Russia and the West. Read More