Russian marines deployed to Syria: What are their intentions?

U.S. Naval Institute ^ | 6/18/12 | Mark Adomanis

[Saint X]

The announcement of two Russian amphibious warships bound for Syria is strange. Not because the Russians are above meddling in a conflict zone or are committed to the principle of non-interference. But because deploying ships and marines represents an escalation in the Syrian conflict — an escalation the Russians have expressly avoided. On the same day news first broke about the deployment of Russian warships, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, totally in line with its previous position, announced that it was seeking the early resumption of the UN mission in Syria.

With conflicting messages coming from different parts of the Russian government, it’s unclear what precisely Russian intentions actually are.

One possibility is that the Russian Ministry of Defense was victorious in an internal bureaucratic struggle against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Russian Defense Ministry convinced Russian president Vladimir Putin and the political leadership that it was time for Russia to stop dithering and draw a line in the sand. Under this scenario Russia will under no circumstances accept Assad’s departure and that it will do everything in its power to ensure he survives, even if that involves committing small numbers of troops.

[cunning_fish]

>>>>>The best thing that could happen would be for the dictator there to fall to forces committed to a secular Republic and basic civil rights for all of its citizens. That is what we should have been seeking out and supporting this entire time...long before Russia ever sent these forces towards the area.>>>>>>>

I’m sorry but the entire idea is plain stupid to say the least. Isn’t Lybia and Egypt an example to you? No free republic is ever possible in ME in a lifetime and probably in a next 500 years. Iraq and Afghanistan will fall next day after US withdrawal. An alternative to Assad and other ousted secular dictators in the region is a huge caliphate from Africa to Caucasus with nuclear weapons and manpower of hundreds million people ruled by people who organized nine eleven.

[archy]

Russian marines deployed to Syria: What are their intentions?

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