Syria would be a nice part of the chessboard for Russia to control.
Think of it as a big base.
Turkey to the North.
Saudi Arabia is what, 50 miles to the South? And isn’t Saudi Arabia already fighting in Yemen?
Putin is making move after move on the chess board while Obama is watching cartoons.
Putin is playing Chess.
Obama is playing Chinese Checkers.......................
Mate in six...
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.