I am sure you have your own ground level view of what was going on. You should contact thew author of that article -= and others - to make them "get it right".

For me, as an observer, the Russian presence was there to defend Syria's legitimate government from a bunch of bloodthirsty jihadist mercenaries who were working on behalf of the US to overthrow Assad.

And I guess that is what you were doing as well?? Did you have a nice time hanging out with those guys?

Now please give me your argument for how ISIS and Al Qaeda actually have such tremendous respect for "infidels" working for NGOs.