/bingo
In addition, the Russian air force wouldn’t be able to carry out that kind of mission, long routes, avoiding NATO’s, and Ukraine’s, and muzzie ‘Stans’ airspaces, with no midair refueling prospects.
Putin’s neosoviet empire hasn’t even been able to reconquer the Republic of Ukraine, and in the process of trying Putin has humiliated himself and his empire in the eyes of the rest of the world.
His all-in approach in Syria has resulted in a quagmire, and he has no plan other than to try to hang on, then hang on, then hang on some more. Russian nationals married to Syrians are somewhat numerous, and their eventual evacuation will present yet another humiliation.
There may be some cheerleaders and fifth columnists who claim to doubt it, but Assad isn’t going to reestablish control of Syria, and isn’t going to live forever.
Zero, by contrast, has managed to do almost nothing in Iraq, and while obviously backing the interests of Iran has managed to accelerate the inevitable split between Iran and Russia — all without putting boots on the ground.
This Map Of US And Russian Arms Sales Says It All
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3192444/posts
How Russia is rousing a sleeping energy bear [Mar 2014]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3137299/posts
Russia throwing Iran lifeline: Negotiating big oil-for-goods deal [Jan 2014]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3110688/posts
Israeli ‘spy’ and Russia’s arms secrets [2011]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2724475/posts
Dead Russian reporter was investigating arms sales to Iran, Syria [2007]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1796422/posts
President Putin, Middle East Arms Merchant [2006]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1682458/posts
Russia-Iran Arms Trade [2006]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1730462/posts
Which quickly comes back to a number of things: 1 - The instability of this region is legendary.
2 - Stability would require inhumane actions.
3 - Without quelling the uprising, it can, has, will, spread.
Which takes us back to point # 2. Who will be the hero ?