They cleaned up ISIS within weeks when they publicly decided it was enough. So much so that if you watch Assad's behavior around Putin, it's a younger brother admiring his older brother. It's a genuine respect not some forced "he may kill me".

They did the same thing in Georgia a few years back. They did the same in Crimea with their proxies and more than likely, specialty units going in and out.

Now Ukraine. Just look at how clean they are. No videos of full scale war of any kind.

The media shows some buildings on fire or brick and rubble everywhere but no indication that it was Russia doing it.

There are videos of "Ukrainians" upset and "standing up to" Russians soldiers but that shit appears like it's just some actors. Everyone else in the videos in the background seem to be extremely calm and relaxed around the Russian troops.

I can say the same about the Iranians. They operate exactly the same way. Clean and quick they get in, take over whatever they need to and get out or take control and done deal.

They use the same tactics with proxies that the Russians did in Crimea.

These countries we've been "enemies" with are no doubt corrupt but I don't believe for a second their capabilities are a joke. These guys have been preparing for decades very strategically.