The Russians have been in Latakia since the 60's.
Interesting that the exact same reasoning is moving the Russians that put Mr. Bush in Afghanistan and Iraq. Change the matchup from jihadis versus office workers in the World Trade Center, to jihadis versus First Tanks. See how they do then.
I'm personally convinced that was always Bush's strategy. That, and put a substantial army and friendly state between Iran and Syria.
I disagree. Bush was right to go into Afghanistan, but Gulf war II and even more so Gulf war I was a colossal mistake — in 1990, we became the Saudi’s b*t$h — we should have let Saddam keep Kuwait — he would then have slaughtered Jihadis (they hated him) and the Ayatollahs and cowed the Saudis — preventing the Saudis from using their money to train and fund jihadis across the world